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Sports Briefs

Suters on tempo in Tempe

Suters on tempo in Tempe

Whistler triathletes Paul and Christine Suter were among the Canadians who braved the heat, dry air and altitude of Tempe to race in the second annual Ironman Arizona.

Paul finished 324 th overall and 23 rd out of 205 competitors in the men’s 45 to 49 race with a total time of 11 hours, 33 minutes and 21 seconds. He got off to a great start in the swim, completing the 2.4 mile/4.18 km swim in 59:59, sixth in his category. He was 24 th in his category on the 112 mile/180 km bike leg, and then ran a 4:56:54 marathon (26 miles/42.2 km).

Christine Suter was 398 th overall and finished fifth out of 88 racers in the women’s 35 to 39 group.

She started with a great swim, coming out of the water in 1:02:14, third in her age category. She was 12 th on the bike in 5:59:18, then 14 th in the run in 4:39:35.

This was Paul’s seventh Ironman and Christine’s fifth.

Freeride club tackles big mountain

For the third year the Whistler Freeride Club held a junior big mountain contest, with members showing off their skills in The Bite area of Blackcomb Mountain. The same pitch has been used in the past for the Canadian Freeskiing Championship qualifier events.

Skiers were judged on line choice, speed, and how well they handled the terrain features. Air time was encouraged, but safety was also important.

Junior Boys 13 and Under

1. Logan Pehota

2. Alexander Ludwig

3. Jake Balzarini

Senior Boys 14 and Over

1. Ryan Sullivan

2. Alex Prochazka

3. Jeff Gage

Girls

1. Erin Kerr

2. Nadine Crowe

3. Lonnie Wake

The judges were Peter Smart from Extremely Canadian, Rossignol freeride team manager Paddy Kaye and Dak Williams, who helps to organize the International Free Skiers Association world tour.

Switzer’s the Master

A handful of Whistler skiers headed to the Canadian Masters Championships in Kamloops this past weekend, where they faced over 100 masters skiers from across Canada.

In the women’s super G on April 7, Wendy Morrison was fourth overall, Wendy Harrison fifth, Grace Oaks 11 th and Joy Fera 15 th .

For the men, Dave Johnston and Jamie Edwards were 10 th and 11 th respectively, Paul Hothersall was 14 th , Ken Chaddock 16 th , Bob Switzer 26 th , John Grant 36 th , Jules Lajoie 38 th , Owen Owens 47 th , and Herbert Trbuel, Garvin Robinson, Alistair Fife and Patrick Duffy were 49 th through 52 nd .

Wendy Harrison was fifth overall in the giant slalom, followed by Wendy Morrison in sixth, Grace Oaks in 10 th , Joy Fera in 16 th and Helene Bertrand in 23 rd .

Alain Rey was seventh in the men’s GS, Jamie Edwards 10 th , Dave Johnston 13 th , Paul Hothersall 18 th , Ken Chaddock 22 nd , Bob Switzer 25 th , John Grant 36 th , Jules Lajoie 40 th , and Alistair Fife, Owen Owens and Herbert Grubel 50 th through 52 nd .

Wendy Morrison placed second in the women’s slalom, Wendy Harrison was fifth, Grace Oaks eighth, and Helene Bertrand 18 th .

Jamie Edwards was the top Whistler skier in 10 th , Alain Rey was 16 th , Bob Switzer 20 th , Paul Hothersall 22 nd , Dave Johnston 26 th , Ken Chaddock 33 rd , Jules Lajoie 36 th , John Grant 38 th , Owen Owens 44 th , Alistair Fife 46 th , Herbert Grubel 49 th and Patrick Duffy 50 th .

The athletes were also ranked separately in their age groups. Based on category results, Bob Switzer won the overall men’s champion title. Switzer competes in the Kokanee Valley Race Series in the 60 to 69 category.

Ski legends to sign autographs

There will be hundreds of world-class athletes on hand for the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival, and at least five of them will be available for autographs. Rossignol freeskiers Candide Thovex of France and Kristi Leskinen of the U.S. will join local jibber Rory Bushfield, and freeski legends Hugo Harrison and Dan Treadway for two meet and greet sessions.

The first is on Saturday, April 15 at the Glacier Shop and the second on Friday, April 21 at Comor Sports. Both events run from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and there will be posters available.