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The year in sports

The world is coming to Whistler in less than 14 months for the Olympics, but Whistler has been going to the world for a lot longer than that.
1602sports
Britt Janyk

The world is coming to Whistler in less than 14 months for the Olympics, but Whistler has been going to the world for a lot longer than that. Athletes that call Sea to Sky home and grew up skiing Whistler and Blackcomb are also among our leading 2010 hopefuls, skiing and riding against the best of the best from dozens of countries.

In that sense, 2008 was a big year for Whistler. In alpine skiing, Britt Janyk ranked third in the world in downhill last season and seventh in super G, with two World Cup medals to her credit.

In snowboarding, Maëlle Ricker won the overall snowboardcross globe with several podium appearances, while Crispin Lipscomb won the final World Cup halfpipe event and Brad Martin netted gold and silver at Canadian World Cup stops.

Mogul skier Kristi Richards is from the Interior, but calls Whistler home for part of the year. She was on the podium three times last season. Sylvia Kerfoot also won her first World Cup medal, a silver in Czech Republic.

In ski halfpipe — which isn’t an Olympic discipline yet but probably should be — Sarah Burke was crowned as the overall champion.

Canada also has a lot of solid contenders in ski cross, which is an official sport in 2010. The Whistler list includes Davey Barr, Brian Bennett, Ashleigh McIvor and Julia Murray.

Whistler doesn’t have international level Nordic skiers or sliders yet, but that’s changing quickly now that our venues and development programs are in place.

Stepping back a level, there are good reasons why Whistler produces so many great athletes. A lot of it has to do the terrain around here, the consistent snow and long seasons, how close we are to Vancouver — but part of it has to do with the culture as well. From grassroots park events on the mountains to a competitive ski racing series for kids as young as 11, there is a progression that athletes can follow all the way to the top.

Here are a few of the highlights of the 2008 season

January

Jan. 3-5 — Whistler’s Garrett Milan is selected as an all-star at Canada’s largest AAA hockey tournament. He now plays for the Penticton Vees in the BCHL, and was drafted by St. Cloud State, an NCAA Division I team.

Jan. 4-5 — Whistler Olympic Park held its first ski jumping competition, the Canadian Ski Jumping Championships.

Jan. 12 — Whistler Mountain Ski Club alumnus Manuel Osborne-Paradis wins a bronze medal in the Wengen downhill, the third medal of his career.

Jan. 11-13 — The Whistler Blackcomb Freestyle Club wins nine medals at the opening provincial series competition. Jae Woo Choi was the star with three gold medals in moguls, dual moguls and big air, while Yuki Tsubota of Pemberton won silver medals in moguls and gold in big air.

Jan. 18 — Whistler’s Kristina Rody was named the senior Female Road Runner of the Year for 2007 by B.C. Athletics.

Jan. 19 — Whistler’s Robbie Dixon places sixth in World Cup super G at Kitzbuhel, his first top-30, and the youngest athlete to crack the top-40 on the tough Austrian course.

Jan. 25-26 — WMSC skiers sweep all 24 medals at the annual Parsons Memorial races in Whistler. Medallists were Mackenzie Patterson, Elyse Timoshenko, Marielle Thompson, Kailee Darlington, Ford Swette, Willy Konantz, Spencer Morris.

Jan. 25-27 — Sarah Burke first in X Games halfpipe.

February

Feb. 1-2 — Mild Millies win the Peak to Valley race, consisting of Liz Thompson, Tom Prochazka, Steve Fleckenstein and Kent Wills.

Feb. 2 — Whistler’s Davey Barr wins World Cup ski cross race in Utah.

Feb. 4-7 — Whistler hosts the speed events of the Canadian Championships a little early. John Kucera wins three titles, Larisa Yurkiw two. Top skiers miss the event to race World Cup events in Europe.

Feb. 9 — Derek Porter and Carolyn Dabney are the top solo racers in the annual Lost Lake Shuffle, going 10 and nine laps respectively on a 1.8 km course in 1.5 hours.

Feb. 16-17 — WMSC skiers claim 17 of 18 medals at the Enquist Slalom. Medal winners are Kailee Darlington, Jocelyn Ramsden, Nelly Nardelli, Spencer Morris, Ford Swette, Daniel Kwong and Broderick Thompson.

Feb. 16 — Maëlle Ricker wins gold in SBX at Sungwoo, Korea.

Feb. 21-23 — Whistler hosted World Cup alpine test events, the first World Cup races in a decade. No medals for Canada, but Britt Janyk was within 0.16 seconds of a bronze in the downhill, and Erik Guay just 0.18 seconds back of a bronze in super G.

Feb. 22-24 — Whistler athletes medal at B.C. Winter Games. Emma King won silver and gold in women’s slalom, and silver in GS; Sam Daniels was first in Para-Alpine slalom sitting category; Lisa Nakajmi was second in women’s figure skating; Matt Bonin won third in hockey.

Feb. 29 — Robbie Dixon just misses the podium, placing fourth in super G in Norway.

March

Mar. 1 — Crispin Lipscomb wins the Showcase Showdown pipestyle, while Whistler Valley Snowboard Club riders Andrew Matthews and Robbie Balharry were second and third. Stephanie Just was the top female rider, followed by Breanna Strangeland and Pilar Peterson.

Mar. 2 — Sylvia Kerfoot wins her first World Cup medal in moguls. She injured her knee five days later.

Mar. 6 — Britt Janyk is sixth in the downhill at Bormio, giving her top-10 results in eight of nine downhill races over the season.

Mar. 6-9 — WMSC K2 skiers topped the provincial championships. Medals went to Ford Swette, William Konantz, Spencer Morris, Mackeznie Patterson (three gold medals), Jocelyn Ramsden, Elyse Timoshenko, Broderick Thompson, and Daniel Kwong.

Mar. 15 — Whistler hosts the first World Cup ever held for adaptive snowboarding, settling on slingshot as the format — basically a time trial on a snowboardcross course. Whistler’s Tyler Mosher was first.

Mar. 15 — Britt Janyk wins the final World Cup downhill, her third medal of the season.

Mar. 15 — Sarah Burke wins the halfpipe in the World Cup finals, taking the overall crown. The Canadian Freestyle Ski Team claims its third straight Nations Cup with the help of its halfpipe and ski cross athletes.

Mar. 15 — Crispin Lipscomb wins the World Cup halfpipe finals in Italy, while Maëlle Ricker took the overall title the previous week with a silver medal.

Mar. 15-16 — WMSC K1 skiers on the provincial podium. Medals went to Kaylie Higgs, Emma King, Logan Pehota, and Brodie Seger.

Mar. 22 — Jae Woo Choi wins gold in single and dual moguls at the freestyle junior nationals.

Mar. 29 — The freestyle club finished tops in B.C. with 20 medals at the B.C. Championships.

Mar. 29-30 — WMSC skiers Ford Swette and Mackenzie Patterson on the podium at K2 nationals.

April

Apr. 4-6 — Whistler riders Derek Wintermans, Maëlle Ricker, Mercedes Nicoll and Brad Martin win national snowboard titles at Cypress 2010 venues.

Apr. 4-5 — The WMSC’s Ford Swette won the K2 super G race and the Dave Murrary award at the Whistler Cup.

Apr. 11-19 — Local skiers and riders did well in the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival. Austin Ross of Pemberton was third in the skier’s big air, while Sarah Burke won the women’s contest. In snowboarding, Matt Belzile was third. K2 rider Sean Pettit helped his team to victory in the Orage Masters. Sarah Burke won the ski superpipe. Bev Vuilleumier won the If Ullr Was A Girl contest.

Apr. 19 — WORCA raises $105,000 in their annual bike swap, raising $12,000 for youth programs.

Apr. 19 — Valley Trail Run: Whistler’s Brenda Baker won the women’s 50 to 59 age category in 41:01. A total of 75 Whistler runners took part.

Apr. 18-19 — Melanie Bernier wins Spearhead and Windup races at World Backcountry Freeride Jam.

Apr. 22 — The Core hosts its first ever climbing competition, with close to 100 participants. Advanced category winners were Anne Price and Tim Catcher.

Apr. 25 — Whistler’s Brett Crabtree wins the IFSA World Tour men’s title, placing first at Crested Butte and third at Snowbird.

May

May 3 — Whistler golf pro and Olympic basketballer Alan Kristmanson inducted into B.C. Basketball Hall of Fame.

May 4 — Kristina Rody is third in the Vancouver Half Marathon in 1:19:19.

May 10 — Duncan Munro second in the Squamish MOMAR adventure race, racing solo.

May 10 — Whistler riders top several categories at the Squamish Orecrusher. Winning their categories were Sarah O’Byrne, Josh Stott, Mike Boehm, Eric Crowe and Tony Routley.

May 18 — Local triathletes on top of North Shore Sprint Triathlon. Podiums include David Higgins, Greg Sandkuhl, Karen Blaylock, Christine Suter.

May 24 — Whistler secondary students on the podium at the B.C. High School Mountain Bike Championships. Podiums went to Max Horner and Nicki Murdoch.

May 24-25 — Annual Whistler Tri Club Kids of Steel and Adult Try a Tri races on Saturday, followed by the annual Whistler Valley Trail Run on Sunday.

May 30 — First B.C. Cup cross-country race of the season. On the podium in their respective categories were Marla Zucht, Lindsay Burch, Max Horner, Matt Bodkin, Lesley Clements, Kristin Johnston, Henric Meldgard and Josh Stott.

June

June 1 — Will Routley fourth in provincial road championships, while Dana Williams was first in the Master A category.

June 14 — Casey Groves wins the first Boneyard Air Affair in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park.

June 14 — Record setting times for the 2008 Test of Metal. Whistler riders on the podium include Tony Routley, Trevor Hopkins, Josh Stott, Victoria Whitney, Emma Smith, Sarah O’Byrne, Marilyn Manso, Scott Woolley, Mike Charuk, Rob McSkimming, Henric Meldgard, David Thornhill.

June 21-23 — Will Routley wins the Elkhorn Classic in Oregon.

June 22 — Squamish’s Aaron Heidt shatters the previous record on the Comfortably Numb Trail Run by almost nine minutes, finishing the 25 km distance in one hour, 49 minutes and 50 seconds.

June 22 — The Pemberton Laoyam Eagles youth dragon boat team wins its 10 th straight title at the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival in Vancouver.

June 23 — Kristina Rody is fourth among women in the Vancouver Scotiabank Half Marathon. Brenda Baker was first in the womens’ 55 to 59 age category.

June 29 — Local riders top B.C. Cup races. On the podium in downhill were James McSkimming, William Dixon, Caleigh Christie, Marilyn Manso. In cross-country it was Tyler Allison and Henric Meldgard.

June 28-29 — Whistlers hosts inaugural Dragon Boat Festival on Alta Lake.

June. 27-29 — The Whistler Mountain Rangers win the Whistler All-Star hockey tournament, and were undefeated in two tournaments earlier in the season. Whistler and Squamish players were Jesse Clemiss, Garret Milan, Mike McCance and Hunter Nelson.

July

June 1-July 6 — The second running of the seven-day, 550 km B.C. Bike Race was sold out. Team Kona, Kris Sneddon and Barry Wicks, was the top open men’s team, while Sara Bresnick Zocchi and Kelli Emmett of the U.S. won the open women’s classification.

July 13 — The 11 th annual Squamish triathlon. Whistler athletes on the podium include Paul Suter, Julie Mountifield, Karen Blaylock and Jennifer Leigh.

July 19 — Locals race in cross-country mountain bike nationals in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec. Tyler Allison was third in junior expert.

July 26 — Gearjammer. Whistler riders on the podium include Matt Ryan, Keith Ray, Tony Routley, Scott Brunning, Jesse Melamed, Seb Kemp, Mike Charuk, David Thornhill, Gary Baker, Melanie Bernier, and Sheryl MacLeod.

August

Aug. 8-16 — Crankworx. Too many results to mention, but highlights include the inaugural Canadian Cheese Rolling Championships (congratulations to Antoine Guay and Maya Klavna), the more than $10,000 raised by the Ken Quon Ride On memorial race, Andreu Lacondeguy’s double backflip in the slopestyle, John Webster’s almost dab-free performance in Trialworx, and Whistler’s Chris Kovarik and Rebecca McQueen placing third and first in the Air Downhill against a field of pro racers.

Aug. 23 — Local runners topped Five Peaks, which drew over 400 racers. On the podium were Emma Smith, Vendetia McHugh, Michelle Marsh, Michael Adams, Tess Geddes, Logan Pehota.

Aug. 24 — Whistler’s Christine Suter was 10 th in her age category in Ironman Canada. Other Whistler finishers were Ollie Blake, Laura Henderson, Brandi Higgins, Jan Pichler, Scott Brammer, Taralyn Day, Gabi Moeller, Mark Lyttle.

Aug. 27 — The Whistler Outdoor Volleyball Association wraps up its record-breaking season. The Dirt Dogs won Division A, the Donkeys won Division B, and We’re Gonna Spank U won Division C.

September

Sept. 5 — Squamish Wolfpack launch their inaugural season in the Pacific International Junior Hockey League (Junior B), with a 5-1 loss at home.

Sept. 6 — Crispin Lipscomb wins a halfpipe World Cup at Cardrona, New Zealand.

Sept. 6 — Matt Ryan wins the West Side Wheel Up for the second year in a row, while Joanna Harrington won the women’s title a fourth time — injuring her foot in the process. Jesse Melamed was the top junior.

Sept. 7 — Emma Smith is the top female in the 15 km Loop the Lakes trail run. Also on the podium were Arlene Schieven, Brenda Baker, Tess Geddes and Walter Wallgram.

Sept. 13 — Maëlle Ricker earns a bronze in the first snowboardcross of the season at Chapelco, Argentina.

Sept. 13 — The second annual Soo Valley Rumble. The top male was Matt Bodkin, and the top female Lesley Clements.

Sept. 20 — A very wet and muddy Cheakamus Challenge. Whistler riders on the podium include Matt Bodkin, Matt Ryan, Lesley Clements, Cathy Zeglinski, Ben Somerton, Chris Johnston, Chris Clark, Mike Boehm, Eric Crowe, Mike Charuk, Bob Allison, Tony Routley, Emma Smith, and Melanie Bernier. Jesse Melamed was the top racer on the 40 km “short course.”

Sept. 28 — Rubble Creek Classic trail run. Greg McDonnell was the top Whistler runner in third, while John Blok won the 50-plus Masters title.

Sept. 27-28 — First Whistler Spirit Run held at Whistler Olympic Park.

October

Oct. 12 — Kristina Rody is second in her age category in the Royal Victoria Marathon, while Kevin Mair was third in the Okanagan International Marathon.

Oct. 17-18 — Whistler Winter Eagles under 14 girls soccer team is third overall at the North Shore Thanksgiving Tournament.

Oct. 19 — Dave and Lindsay Burch win their respective categories in the annual Lumpy’s Epic Trail Run.

Oct. 14-19 — Will Routley places ninth overall in Jayco Sun Tour pro road race in Australia, including a third place finish on one stage.

November

Nov. 7-9 — Whistler Secondary places fourth in the provincial “A” soccer championships out of 47 schools.

Nov. 12-15 — Three Whistler riders finish La Ruta de los Conquistadores. Mike Charuk defended his title, Tony Routley was third, and Cathy Zeglinski was 10 th .

December

Dec. 8 — Federal government announces plans to support Whistler Cup event, contributing $50,000 for the 2009 juvenile race series.

Dec. 14 — Whistler’s Victoria Whitney wins a Nor-Am Cup super-G, the best finish of her career. A week earlier Whistler’s Mike Janyk warmed up for the World Cup season with two Nor-Am Cup slalom wins.

Dec. 14-16 — Whistler’s Tyler Mosher on the podium twice at Nor-Am Cup event in the Para-Nordic standing category.

Dec. 20 — Whistler skiers almost sweep podium at opening zone races.