Thursday, March 27, 2008

Nancy Greene Wind-Up


Sunday March 23rd was our Nancy Green Wind-up day with a dual slalom against the parents and the lunch put on by Mt Baldy. The racing action was fast and furious with the kids determined to beat all the parents, not just their own. There was even some races against grandparents who were shown no mercy by the kids. The lunch was excellent and hats off to the Mt Baldy kitchen staff for the excellent food.

The snowstars certificates were then given out. These show the kids where they are on the snowstars scale of 1 to 7. Following that we gave out the most improved trophy for 2008. That went to Will Foster for his impressive skill development this year.

Once again thanks to all the parents for their support. Thanks to Mark Weigeldt, Maxine Davison and Warren Everton for all their hard work coaching this year. Also thanks to Annika Everton for all her organization efforts. In the meantime please spread the word about our great racing program hear at Mt Baldy. See you next season!

Sunday, March 23, 2008

K1 Provincials - Grouse & Cypress Vancouver


March 15, 16 and 17th marked the K1 provincial finals in Vancouver. Madeleine and Silken were racing in the Slalom, Kombi and GS events along with 185 athletes from around the province. Madeleine's best finish was a 27th in the stubby slalom which was a great result for her first year in K1. The top twenty was dominated by the 2nd year K1s and amongst the 11 year olds she was 5th. In the Kombi and GS she posted a 48th and 56th. Silken had some great runs in Kombi and GS with a top placing of 4th in Kombi as well as a 4th in GS. She was ranked the number one K1 female in the Okanagan zone going into the provincials and should stay there with these results. Next up for the girls is the Okanagan zone finals at Apex March 29th and 30th. As well, we'll have Sebastien Larivee racing with other 10 year old E2s in this final k1 race. E2s are invited to this race to give them a taste of what K1 will be like next year.
After the Okanagan Finals Silken will be heading off to the Whistler Cup which hosts the best K1 and K2 racers from around the world. It should be another exciting race series. Good luck to Silken and good luck to the Canadian team which won the event last year for the first time in 15 years.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Okanagan Zone Nancy Greene Finals


Well the little squad that could, did it again! Mt. Baldy's E1 black* team took the silver medal at the Okanagan Finals at Big White over the weekend. There were a hundred and seventy racers from Sun Peaks, Harper Mtn, Revelstoke, Silver Star, Big White, Apex and Mt Baldy. It was great race on the lower Paradise that challenged the kids with some steepness and icy turns. The only team that finished ahead of ours was Silver Star's best team. There were more successes for the Baldy squad through the weekend starting with our blue team finishing in seventh place.
On Sunday it was the E2s turn with Mt Baldy fielding three racers including Ella Pasin, Foster Kane and Sebastian Larivee. The field was 115 strong this time but our team still managed to do quite well. In the nine year old girls category Ella was 20th. In the ten year old boys category Sebastian cracked the top ten taking the tenth place medal with Foster following in 18th.
Congratulations to all the kids! Not only did they perform but they were the sharpest dressed on the mountain with their new team vests.

We will have some professionally taken pictures posted later in the week. Stay tuned.

*(Black - highest skill level, Blue - mid level, Green - beginning level)

Mt. Baldy is not resting on it's success just yet. We are off to the Provincial K1 (11 & 12 yr olds) championships at Grouse Mtn and Cypress Bowl in Vancouver this weekend. Racing starts Saturday with slalom, then turns to the kombi event on Sunday, finishing with the GS on Monday. After that we have Apex coming to Baldy to train on Friday March 21st. We are hoping to use the lower shaft for some GS and Slalom training. Then the Okanagan K1 series wraps up with the finals at Apex on the 29th and 30th. Our E2s are invited to that race to give them an early taste of what K1 will be like next year. It should be another fun and exciting weekend.