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Peak to Valley another show of strength, speed

Listening to the grunts of the racers as they steered their way around the last dozen gates, you get a good idea just how physically and mentally demanding the annual Appleton Rum Peak to Valley Race really is.

Listening to the grunts of the racers as they steered their way around the last dozen gates, you get a good idea just how physically and mentally demanding the annual Appleton Rum Peak to Valley Race really is.

The average World Cup giant slalom has about a 250 metre vertical drop. The Peak to Valley GS race on Feb. 1 and 2 has a drop of 1,443 metres and 180 gates, covering a distance of more than 5.6 kilometres. And it was another sellout with over 320 racers in 80 teams of four. All teams had to have at least one female to enter.

Once again, judging by the wide variety of ski suits on display, several generations of alpine racers, including former Team Canada members, were well represented at the race.

Because of the vastly different skiing conditions on both race days – sticky snow and low visibility on Friday, icy conditions and better visibility on Saturday – race times were a little slower on day one.

The top racer on Friday was Whistler’s Jamie Finlayson who competed for Wild Willies II. The 21 year old was on the national development team for three seasons and a top prospect for the World Cup team until he was forced to retire due to illness. He now has his arthritis under control and next year is planning to once again qualify for the national team. B.C. Alpine is accepting donations on his behalf to help him realize this dream.

He will be racing in the next Pontiac Cup speed events at Apex this weekend against development team skiers and the top skiers in B.C. and Alberta. He won the downhill event last year without any training.

His finish time of five minutes 38.57 seconds was the fastest of the day.

Within that time, he covered an average of 16.54 metres of ground per second, and dropped an average of 4.2 metres. Those numbers are even more impressive when you factor in the flat spots.

Not only did Finlayson’s time help his team to win the title, he also unseated perennial Peak to Valley champion Chris Kent, who was also racing on Friday with the Wild Willies I team. Prior to last weekend’s race, Kent, a ski coach and former World Cup racer, had won the Peak to Valley title eight out of the past nine years.

The second-fastest time on Friday, 5:47.12, belonged to Mark Anderson. Kent’s time of 5:47.24 put him in third place.

The fastest woman on Friday was Whistler’s Liz Thompson, who cleared the course in 6:41.34. June Southwell was second in 6:52.30, and Terry Vincent right behind in third with a time of 6:53.46.

Although there was some new snow on Saturday, the conditions were significantly faster.

Whistler’s Brian Bennett, who like Finlayson is another World Cup prospect with years of FIS experience in Europa Cup and Nor-Am competitions, cleared the course in 5:22.93.

Rob Rainer was second in 5:27.30 and Philip Beauregard third in 5:32.73.

The women were led by Hilary Lindh, who cleared the course in 5:41.84 – almost a minute faster than the top times of the day before.

Tatjana Hozler was second in 5:50.96, and Monica Meier third in 5:51.54.

In the team categories, which are set by the combined ages of all the team members, the top Category I team (76 to 129 years) was Wild Willies II with Jamie Finlayson, Val Kritsch, Brennan Cook and Dave Johnston with a combined time of 23:35.11.

In second place was Droppin’ Acid with Dana Williams, Judy Ameli, Jay Roberts and Jason Simpson, with a combined time of 26.09.93.

The Unknowns finished in a close third, with David Oser, Peter Dekur, Brian Bennett and Joanna MacDonald, with a time of 26:21.49.

In Category II (ages 130 to 149), the Wild Willies I team won by almost a full minute and a half with a combined time of 23:47.42 from Chris Kent, Monica Meier, Rob Rainer and Liz Thompson.

The Procrastinators, Philip Beauregard, Chris Colbeck, John Buchanan and Genevieve Bourgeois, were second in 25:15.14.

A Lady & Her Tramps finished in third, with Joe Boskovich, Carmine Boskovich, Rob Cook and Mark Anderson combining or a time of 25:27.04.

Category III (ages 150 to 174), went to Skiin’ Ta Win, with Tom Prochazka, Kent Wills, Steve Fleckenstein and Tatjana Holzer combining for 24:06.00.

Team K2 was second in 24:59.35, with Robin White, John Forsen, Knut Olberg and Petr Kakes.

The Ed Piggley Race Team, comprised of Butch White, Chris Shaw, Will Fernyhough and Jennifer Rollins, was third in 25:19.08.

Category IV (ages 175 to 199) was led by Denny & the Jets, with Jules Lajoie, Grant Haugen, Wendy Morrison and Bernard Kahlert combining for a time of 26:44.07.

Mondo Bondo Darma Benders was second as Brett Lasorella, Mark Tannel, Mike Collins and Terry Vincent put together a time of 27:11.28.

Christy Taylor, Brian Cameron, Sheri Weichel and Bernard Leroux, better known as Team Prozac, was an extremely close third in 27:13.92.

Category V (ages 200 to 224) went to the Fabrictime Cruisers, with Neil Baker, Chris Vajda, Andree Vadja-Janyk and Bob Calladine combining for 27:20.94.

To Win or Toulouse was second in 28:11.17. That’s Kathryn Gwynn-Brett, Don Brett, Dennis Maguire, and Terry Spence.

The Georgian Peaks Bombers were just 0.32 seconds back with a combined time of 28:11.49 from Kate Peacock, Gerry Young, Heinz Grossman and Bob Campbell.

There were also a number of Category VI teams for ages 225 and up.

The Wild Eastern Flyers Led the way with Lloyd Henderson, Sandy Hogan, Lou Fenninger and Bill Furse combining for a an impressive 27:07.63.

The Beauty and the Beasts were right beyond in 27:12.01. The beauty was Lauralee Bowie and the beasts were Alfred Zeilberger, Kurt Karka and Bob Switzer.

Also close were the Babes With Age, with Grace Oaks, Bonnie Wiegele, David Trussler and Randall Carpenter. They posted a combined time of 27:47.47.