The sun was shining and the conditions were rock hard for the third giant slalom and fourth race of the Kokanee Valley Race Series on Blackcomb on Jan. 17. Although most of the racers had participated in one or more races already this season, there were a number of new faces in the crowd.
In the women’s pro race, the top spot went to Liz R. Thompson with a combined time of 1 minute 50.64 seconds over two runs. Sanae Tanaka was second in 1:52.93, and Judy Ameli third in 1:58.96.
The men’s pro race went to ski coach Chris Kent with both of the fastest runs of the day for a combined time of 1:41.52. Mountain bike coach Chris Colbeck was second in 1:44.20. Seb Fremont was third in 1:45.26. For all three skiers it was their first race of the series.
Christine Cogger raced unopposed in the women’s 19 to 29 category, posting a time of 2:07.57. The women’s 30 to 39 race went to Akiko Kitagawa, as did the regular draw prize of a pair of Atomic 10*20 skis. Shirley Hui was second in 2:25.18, and Sarah Bourne third in 2:28.53.
In the men’s 30 to 39 race, the top spot went to John Evenson with a time of 1:47.81. Robert Jaffe was second in 1:51.08. Tom Jackson was a close third in 1:52.89.
The women’s 40 to 49 race went to Wendy Harrison in an impressive 1:56.03. Janine Linder-Joris was second in 1:57.37, and Terry Vincent third in 2:11.07.
The men’s 40 to 49 race went to Russeell Clark with a time of 1:44.41. Tom Prochazka was close behind in 1:45.71, and Dave Johnston was third in 1:46.77.
Randall Carpenter skied alone in the women’s 50 to 59 category, and finished with a time of 2:05.31. Grace Oaks, once again was the solo entry in the women’s 60 and over race, and once again she finished in the middle of the women’s field with a time of 2:09.52.
Only two men entered the men’s 50 to 59 race, and Rob Robes took the race ahead of Larry Moore, 2:13.190 to 2:24.11.
The men’s 60 to 69 race went to Bob Switzer with a time of 1:50.76. David Trussler was second in 1:54.04, and Alfred Zeilberger third in 1:55.09.
Four men took part in the men’s 70 and over race this week.
Owen Owens took the win in 2:18.98 with almost identical runs. Werner Himmelsbach was second in 2:21.73, and Doug Deeks third in 2:25.81. Gar Robinson dropped from third into fourth as Deeks cut more than three seconds off his time in his second run.
In the men’s snowboard race, Jeremy Shelford was first in 2:38.37, and Jack Evanuk was second in 2:44.18.
The women’s snowboard race came down to the wire with Suzanna Nakajima beating Michele Rideout by one-one hundredth of a second, 2:40.30 to 2:40.31. Tara Curle was third in 2:47.50.
The next race, following the slalom on Jan. 24, is a super-G on Blackcomb. To register, contact Whistler-Blackcomb Guest Relations at 1-800-766-0449.
