Racers woke up to 15 cm of fresh snow on the morning of Jan. 6, but the Whistler Blackcomb grooming and events crews managed to get a giant slalom course ready on Ptarmigan for the second Kokanee Valley Race Series of the season.
The lure of powder kept the numbers down, but close to 50 people turned out for the event.
Because of the conditions, only the best of two runs counted, rather than the combined time.
The next race is today (Jan. 13), followed by another giant slalom on Jan. 27 - the last KVRS training opportunity before the annual Appleton Rum Peak to Valley Race.
The series is open to all skiers, snowboarders and telemarkers aged 19 and over. Registration is $29 in advance, including all taxes, at any Whistler Blackcomb Guest Relations desk. Event day registration is $35, and available until 9:45 a.m. in the Rendezvous Lodge for Blackcomb events, and in the video trailer at the Garbanzo Express for Whistler events.
Jan. 6 GS Results
Women 60-Plus
1. Grace Oaks - 1:06.87
Women 50 to 59
1. Janine Linder-Joris - 58.28
2. Kary Firstbrook - 58.66
Women 40 to 49
1. Heike Stippler - 1:01.66
2. Michele Marsh - 1:03.38
3. Shirley Hui - 1:03.84
Women 30 to 39
1. Kirsty Wright - 1:03.68
2. Allison Jelley - 1:11.91
3. Laura McKeown - 1:16.15
Women 19 to 29
1. Jessica Nicol - 1:01.49
2. Sarah Colman - 1:02.20
3. Sarah Paci - 1:14.08
Men 70 to 79
1. David Trussler - 58.89
2. Bob Switzer - 59.20
3. Lloyd Henderson - 1:00.83
Men 60 to 69
1. Paul Psutka - 56.93
2. Butch White - 59.18
3. Jules Lajoie - 1:00.99
Men 50 to 59
1. Alain Rey - 54.79
2. Tommy Thompson - 54.83
3. Dave Johnston - 55.84
Men 40 to 49
1. Tenney Wilkins - 54.65
2. Geoff Gerhart - 56.08
3. Dan Russell - 56.90
Men 30 to 39
1. Radek Pleva - 58.10
Men 19 to 29
1. Michael Messeguer - 53.98
2. Jeff Cusick - 54.53
3. Fabien Ganterbein - 54.73
Men Telemark
1. Gavin Christie - 1:10.81
2. Hugh Berwick - 1:11.39
Men Snowboard
1. David Ball - 1:08.45
2. Adam Rowland - 1:18.02
