More than 60 skiers in the U16 age category hit the slopes last weekend for the BC Teck Coast Zone's season-opening competition at the Whistler Mountain Ski Club (WMSC). Locals dominated both the two-run combined giant slalom race on Jan. 14 and the two-run combined slalom event on Jan. 15, winning eight of a possible nine medals at the Dave Murray National Training Centre.
WMSC athletes Nick Kokot and Hannah Jensen were especially successful, each coming away with two victories in their respective gender categories. Marek Novak (second) and Dreas Gibbons (third) joined Kokot on the men's giant slalom podium on Saturday, while Maika Lennox-King (silver) and Nicole Webb (bronze) rounded out the women's giant slalom top three.
Then on Sunday, Novak again finished second behind Kokot in men's slalom. Third place belonged to Jaden Chow of Cypress Ski Club, the only non-WMSC competitior to win any hardware in Whistler that weekend.
The women's slalom podium looked identical to the giant slalom: Jensen, Lennox-King and Webb, in that order. Full results are available here.
Racers were treated to a generous mix of sun and clouds, a welcome contrast from the persistent precipitation that had fallen the week before. Whistler's Ptarmigan run offered firm to icy conditions on both days, with helpers from multiple Coast Zone clubs joining WMSC volunteers in ensuring the competition ran smoothly.
Visit the WMSC website for more information on events and competitions throughout the year.
