Rossland’s Soleil Patterson was crowned the U16 Provincial Champion in downhill skiing in Prince George last month.
The Red Mountain Racer U16 skiers recently returned from the provincial championships, which included six days of racing at the Purden Ski Village just outside of Prince George.
After being sidelined with a concussion for almost six weeks, Patterson came back with a vengeance and captured three golds and one silver, on her way to the U16 overall provincial championship for 2014. She also qualified to compete at Whistler Cup where she will take on athletes from across Canada and around the world.
Even though there is one more week of training for Nancy Greene Ski League athletes, the racing wrapped up this past weekend with the season finale in stellar snow conditions at the Salmo Ski Hill.
Red Mountain Racers had solid performances and a great time skiing on a very snowy day. Nine-year-old Chase Eagleton stood on the podium twice in the U10 category with a bronze in the slalom and winning the GS. Radek Krampl took bronze in the U12 GS, and Bella Vockeroth Fisher also came home with bronze.
Our U14 athletes traveled to the BC Games to compete in the Giant Slalom, Slalom and Skicross events held at Hemlock Ski Resort. Unfortunately, weather prevented the U14 men from competing in all but one event. While all of the athletes had solid results, Kaysa Panke and Sammie Gaul brought home the hardware.
Kaysa skied to a bronze medal in Slalom and a silver medal in Giant Slalom. Sammie came home with a silver in the ski cross event.
March will be a busy month for all Red Mountain Racers. The FIS racers are currently in Kimberley for a speed camp followed by four days of racing. The U12 racers depart for the Interzone championships in Big White this weekend. The U14 Provincial championships take place in Sun Peaks Mar. 13-16 and the U16 CAN-AM Westerns take place at APEX March 17-23.
Plans are under way for a Nancy Greene mini Ski Camp over spring break and there are rumours of a race-your-parent day to wrap up the event. Stay tuned to redmountainracers.com for more information.