By Andrew Mitchell
Now that snowboardcross is an official Olympic sport, and skicross is being considered as soon as 2010, the snowcross track on Blackcomb is getting some good use these days.
This past weekend Whistler-Blackcomb hosted the first of two Atomic Ski and Snowboard Cross races, bringing almost 100 skiers and riders — mostly in the 13 and Under age categories.
It was a two-day event, with Saturday set aside for training and qualifying, and more training on Sunday morning before the races got underway.
The course was in good shape, but a little soft in places because of the recent snowfall. As a result the second turn was particularly hard, coming after a steep downhill and at a time when skiers and riders were still close together.
The next Atomic Ski and Snowboard Cross is set for March 24-25. Pre-registration is available at Whistler-Blackcomb Guest Relations for $30, and day of race registration is available at the Rendezvous Lodge until 9:45 a.m. on March 24 for $35.
Ski Boys 13 and Under
1. Nicholas Geddes
2. Logan Pehota
3. Nicholas Wetaski
4. Dalton Pehota
5. Blake Newton
6. Alexander Geddes
7. Cameron Alexander
8. Cooper Yates
Ski Girls 13 and Under
1. Rachael Vanderveen
2. Yuki Tsubota
3. Aeron Westeinde
4. Kerry-Anne Hamilton
5. Kelly Steeves
6. Jessica Lee
7. Cheyenne Ling
8. Siobhan Finan
Snowboard 13 and Under
1. Oscar Kirkwood
2. Stevie Kopyt
3. Zach Astle
4. Chase Harley
5. Phoenix Abernethy
6. Blake Rowe
7. Kevin Burns
8. Christopher Henderson
Ski Men 17 and Over
1. Sead Causevic
2. Michael Stewart
3. Dar Hicks
4. Michael Stahl
5. Jason Fridrik
6. Peter Scherrer
7.Tory Saarinen
8. Barry Anderson
Snowboard Men 17 and Over
1. Perry Bizyk
2. Jordan Atkinson
3. Michael Peiman
4. Tyler Blair
5. Jamie May
6. Andrei Mortila
7. Aaron Faith
8. Roland Hould
Ski Girls 14 to 16
1. Ariana Stufano
2. Erin Kerr
3. Nicola Halliwell
Snowboard Girls 14 to 16
1. Ali Tracy
2. Jacqueline McDonald
3. Jessica Eastwood
Ski Women 17 and Over
1. Brittany Cameron
2. Cat Smiley
Snowboard Women 17 and Over
1. Jacelyn Smith
2. Sarah Stamm
3. Marisa Ruhter
4. Nan Fukuda
Ski Boy 14 to 16
1. Tyler Allison
2. Max Horner
3. Devin White
4. Fraser McGaw