By Andrew Mitchell
Given the amount of snow that has fallen this season, not to mention the wind, fog, rain, and fluctuating freezing levels, the Kokanee Valley Race Series has been extremely lucky.
All eight events on the schedule took place as planned, sometimes with the assistance of groomers and the Whistler-Blackcomb Events crew, and sometimes because of good timing. The last event of the year, a dual giant slalom on March 15, took place in cold, clear conditions with hard-packed snow from the top of the course to the bottom, somehow missing all the snow, rain, rising temperatures, and high winds that hit Whistler before and after the race.
Not only were the winners recognized after the race, overall winners were decided as well.
Dual G.S. Results
Women 40 to 49
1. Sanae Tanaka — 1:30.42
2. Terry Daly — 1:32.53
3. Kary Firstbrook — 1:33.42
Women 30 to 39
1. Heike Stippler — 1:34.40
2. Karin Kafkova — 1:36.23
3. Hilary Hendriks — 1:38.37
Women 19 to 29
1. Mayumi Ueno — 1:46.81
2. Melinda Good — 1:58.09
3. Bettina Schluechter — 2:09.48
Women Pro
1. Charlotte Gourlay — 1:27.95
2. Lauren Parsons — 1:28.57
3. Lucia Paviotti — 1:31.20
Men 70 to 79
1. David Trussler — 1:37.75
2. Werner Himmelsbach — 1:49.14
3. Doug Deeks — 2:00.99
Men 60 to 69
1. Butch White — 1:28.84
2. Bob Switzer — 1:34.40
3. Jules Lajoie — 1:36.15
Men 50 to 59
1. Alain Rey — 1:28.84
2. Paul Psutka — 1:29.57
3. Peter Lyall — 1:29.84
Men 40 to 49
1. Tenney Wilkins — 1:28.16
2. Scot Elder — 1:29.30
3. Tom Jackson — 1:30.24
Men 30 to 39
1. Matteo Bullo — 1:32.50
2. Steve Monk — 1:44.67
Men 19 to 29
1. Paul Hothersall — 1:29.22
2. Fred Treblay — 1:29.78
3. Shigeki Enomoto — 1:34.15
Men Pro
1. James Clarkson — 1:22.62
2. Mike Eyles — 1:24.35
3. Chris Kent — 1:24.60
Men Telemark
1. Gary Liversidge — 2:15.87
Overall Series Champions
Men 80-Plus — Gar Robinson
Men 70 to 79 — David Trussler
Men 60 to 69 — Butch White
Women 60 to 69 — Grace Oaks
Men 50 to 59 — Alain Rey
Women 50 to 59 — Randall Carpenter
Men 40 to 49 — John Muzzillo
Women 40 to 49 — Sanae Tanaka
Men 30 to 39 — Mike Stewart
Women 30 to 39 — Heike Stippler
Men 19 to 29 — Fred Tremblay
Women 19 to 29 — Mayumi Ueno
Men Pro — Phil Beauregard