Grouse Mountain can be foggy, drizzly and rainy, and this year's annual U12 Tyee Cup was no exception.
The U12 Mount Washington Ski Team travelled to Grouse Mountain to compete in the Grouse Tyee Cup Feb. 28 to March 2. For the Mount Washington athletes though, the conditions were not that unfamiliar and it showed in their dominating results.
Courtenay’s Hailey Nelson placed second overall, just missing the coveted Tyee Cup by a slim margin as she competed in four races and finished in first place, third place twice and fourth place once.
Hot on her heels was her teammate and equally exceptional MWSC athlete Emilly Johnston with a second in the Kombi, a fourth in the Slalom and a fifth in the Giant Slalom events.
Isabella Cross of Port Alberni placed 24th, 55th and 30th twice in her first-ever major U12 event. Other Mount Washington Ski Club athletes competing in their first ever U12 event were Shelby Nilsen, Brooke Langevin, Meghan Ellard-Webster and Brooke Taylor.
For the U12 boys it was Luke Hoefer of Nanaimo who stole the show with finishes of second in the Stubbies, fifth in the Kombi event, ninth in the Giant Slalom and 20th in the Slalom. Hayden Harley of Victoria was consistent in three out of four of his races, finishing within the top 25.
Eric Ashton of Comox shone through as well in his first big U12 race with his best run in the Kombi with a 19th place finish. Luka Djurickovic of Victoria had a best result of 23rd in the Giant Slalom.
As usual, the icy snow conditions due to the man-made snow, the rain and the slush on day two did not seem to deter the Mount Washington athletes as they can withstand even the toughest of weather and are able to overcome and outshine their competitors who often under-estimate the talent within the Mount Washington Ski Club.
Next up for these athletes, the Rio Tinto Alcan Nancy Greene Festival at Sun Peaks in mid-March.
– Mount Washington Ski Club