Derek Wintermans, a rider from Port Coquitlam who spends a lot of time training and racing in Whistler, recently made the jump to the national snowboardcross team for the 2009 season. His selection was based on a win at the snowboard nationals, which were held at the Olympic venues at Cypress, as well as two top-10 results on the World Cup tour this past season.
Another four members of the B.C. snowboardcross team are also hoping to move up soon, including Whistler’s Adam Livingstone. Other riders are brothers Matt and Pat Tunnicliffe, and Jesse McDonald from Nakusp.
As well, six out of 13 B.C. athletes on the provincial team have been selected to the Halfpipe National Development Groups. Whistler athletes include Dan Raymond, Neil Connolly and Helen Schettini, along with Charmaine Ironside, Katie Tsuyuki of Squamish, and former Whistler rider Ryan Rausch.
With recruiting, there are now 13 athletes on the provincial snowboardcross team, and another 13 on the halfpipe team. The team trains alternatively at Big White, Whistler and Cypress Mountain, and team members attend events across the country.
