Submitted by Whitewater Ski Team
The Whitewater Ski Team has sprung out of the gate into a busy ski racing season.
The Shredders program (under six to U10) participated in a well-organized and successful Nancy Greene Ski League race at RED Mountain Resort in Rossland on Jan. 22. It was the first such ski race for this age group since 2020.
Over 50 young ski racers and seven coaches from Whitewater joined approximately 100 racers from all over the West Kootenay to participate in a fast and fun dual giant slalom course. Thank you to the local ski resorts, who provide free lift tickets for all the racers, and to the event organizers for the free registration. It was wonderful for families and friends to get together again for a successful community ski race.
Meanwhile, the Whitewater Ski Team organized and ran the Kootenay Zone Speed Camp over the weekend. More than 20 athletes, three coaches, and four parent volunteers from the Whitewater Ski Team Provincial Program (U14 and U16) visited the Kimberley Alpine Resort for a speed camp, running the Dreadnaught, a dedicated world class course that drops 460 metres over 1.8 kilometres.
The team was joined by 40 more racers from across the East Kootenay for three days of Super Giant Slalom training. The athletes reached speeds of over 70 km/h and learned to navigate steep terrain and fast conditions, finishing the course in just over one and a half minutes. Many thanks to the amazing Kimberley Race Committee for hosting. Incredible friendships and memories were made in celebration of one of our community’s favourite winter sports.
The team continues to cheer on our FIS athletes Raleigh Robertson and Madison Clarke who are competing on the Dreadnaught in Kimberley over a 10-day event, competing in Downhill, Super G, and night Slalom. Our U16 athletes Riley Clarke, Malaya Yarmark, Millie Perreault, and Flynn Tracey are heading to Sun Peaks Resort for a Provincial U16 race on Jan. 25 that is a qualifier for the Canada Winter Games in PEI.