Most of the students, teachers, and coaches of Podium of Life Snow Sports Academy raced in the skier cross on Mount Washington last weekend.
It is an exciting event, where four skiers all start at the same time and race to the end. In the sometimes narrow course, athletes have to race around gates while manoeuvring for position. To make things more exciting, there are jumps and steep turns that challenge the competitors. In the end, it is a frightening elimination race.
Justin Watt (Grade 5) won a silver and narrowly edged out Hayden Harley (Grade 4) who won a bronze. Kieran Harley, the older brother in Grade 6, won a gold medal. Sylvi Nymann (Grade 7) raced to a silver medal and her older sister in Grade 9, Maja Nymann won a gold. Dillan Glennie and Georgia Watt (Grade 7) had brilliant starts but were edged out of the medals. Erin Sketchley (Grade 8) sped to a fourth place finish. Kole Harle (Grade 9) earned a silver medal.
Even the coaches and teachers of Podium of Life raced. Corey Harle, co-founder of the school, won a gold in the women's 18 and over category while the other co-founder, Shane Harle, won a bronze.
During the weekend there was also a Slalom and Giant Slalom race and the Podium kids earned great results. Kole Harle won two gold, Maja Nymann won two silver, Sylvi Nyman won a bronze and a fourth, and Kieran Harley won a silver and a bronze.
The third event of the weekend was a disabled race with racers from all over the province. Mel Pemble skied to two gold medals on the first day and a silver and bronze on the second.
– Podium of Life