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Sports Briefs: Park Rider Sessions return with rail jam

To the right athlete a rail represents endless possibilities - do you hit it regular or switch, do you spin on, do you press your nose or tail, do you spin to the end, do you gap over most of the rail and tap it before you land, do you spin off, and

To the right athlete a rail represents endless possibilities - do you hit it regular or switch, do you spin on, do you press your nose or tail, do you spin to the end, do you gap over most of the rail and tap it before you land, do you spin off, and if so do you land switch or regular? More importantly, how do you do it with maximum style?

There are so many tricks out there and so many styles of rails and boxes that it's almost become a winter sport in itself.

If it's your sport then you might want to consider registering for the first Park Rider Session rail jam of the season this Sunday, Dec. 13. The contest, presented by Telus, is fun and informal but with professional judges calling the shots and manning the microphone. Since it's a jam, athletes will session various rails and boxes in the Habitat Terrain Park on Whistler Mountain, spending time on each feature before moving on to the next.

Park Rider Sessions are open to skiers and snowboarders of all ages, although waivers are required for minors and all athletes are required to wear helmets. Other protective gear is recommended.

If you register in advance at Whistler Blackcomb Guest Relations the cost is $26, going up to $30 on the day of the event. Registration will be available on the lower level of the Roundhouse until 9:45 a.m. with the contest getting underway at 10:30 a.m.

The top athletes in each category will win prizes, while all participants are eligible to win various draw prizes donated by sponsors. The awards are at 4 p.m. at 18 Below, Blackcomb Base II.

 

Kokanee Valley Race Series back in the start gate

There's still time to sharpen your edges and wax your skis or board before the Kokanee Valley Race Series kicks of its 2009-2010 season.

The first event on the schedule is a giant slalom on Blackcomb Mountain (CONFIRM WITH WB) on Thursday, Dec. 17.

Racers can compete in either the pro or amateur classes, with both getting two timed runs on a professionally set and marked course. This year there are cash prizes in the pro class (providing there are at least five racers in the category), but all participants are eligible to win draw prizes including a pair of Atomic skis. The first run is at 10:30 a.m. and the second at noon.

The event is open to skiers, snowboarders and telemarkers, and the cost is $26 in advance at Whistler Blackcomb Guest Relations or $30 on race day at the timing hut at the top of the Garbanzo Chair. You can also buy a pass to compete in all six events for $126.

There are a total of six events this year, including Dec. 17, Jan. 7, Jan. 14, Jan. 21, March 11 and March 18.

Nordic Twoonie races cancelled

Due to the lack of snow at Lost Lake Park the Whistler Nordics have made the decision to cancel the first two events of the season on Dec. 10 and Dec. 17. The series will commence on Jan. 7, conditions permitting.

To participate you need to be a member of the Whistler Nordics and pay a $2 entry fee. Kids and families are welcome at all races, and headlamps will be required for a few events that venture out of the lighted sections of the park. Refreshments will be provided.

 

Coast Cup season kicks off at Olympic Park

The registration deadline for the first Coast Cup cross country races of the season is approaching, with online sign-up finishing on Dec. 10 for the Dec. 13 races at Whistler Olympic Park.

There are competitive categories for all ages, age 5 and up, with course distances that range from one kilometre for the youngest skiers to five kilometres for the open men's and women's races. It's a free technique race, so competitors can use either classic or freestyle skis, and the cost of registration ranges from $6 to $18 depending on the age group.

The Hollyburn Jackrabbit Cross Country Ski Club is the official host sponsor of the event.

Online registration is available at www.zone4.ca.

 

Skeleton team owns the podium in Italy

Canada's bid to rank first among nations in the overall Olympic medal count in 2010, also known as the Own The Podium 2010 program, got a boost from the skeleton team in Cesana, Italy last week as athletes brought home six medals in two days.

On the first day, Jon Montgomery earned his third career gold medal while teammate Jeff Pain, recovering from a poor performance in Lake Placid, took the bronze. Latvia's Martins Dukurs climbed five spots after his first run to claim the silver medal, bumping Canada's Mike Douglas off the podium - and ending Canada's chance at a podium sweep.

Melissa Hollingsworth won bronze in the women's event, her 19 th World Cup medal.

Despite the bronze, Hollingsworth was not entirely happy with her race.

"I was sliding so well in training and I didn't perform today to my potential," she said, referring to a few episodes where she skidded out of corners.

"For me I felt like it was a bad day, but it is still a medal and I believe that is a good thing."

Teammate Amy Gough placed seventh.

Shelley Rudman of Great Britain took the win, followed by Germany's Marion Trott.

The bobsleigh team had a solid weekend, capped off with a medal in the final race.

Helen Upperton and teammate Jenny Ciochetti placed fourth in the two person bobsleigh, with the sled of Kaillie Humphries and Shelley-Ann Brown placing sixth and the team of Heather Moyse and Amanda Stepenko placing ninth.

The U.S. team continued its winning streak, followed by a pair of German teams.

The top team on the men's side consisted of Pierre Lueders and David Bissett, who were sitting third after the first run and dropped five spots in the second run to place eighth. The team of Lyndon Rush and Lascelles Brown placed second.

Swiss teams placed first and second with the USA 1 sled third.

The men's four-man race wrapped up the weekend on Sunday. Lyndon Rush steered his team of Chris Le Bihan, Dan Humphries and Lascelles Brown, to a bronze medal finish behind the USA 1 and Switzerland 1 sleds.

"We are just ecstatic right now as a team," said Rush. "The whole package is coming together for us right now. We have a good attitude, we trust our equipment, the push is good and we have a good belief that we can do it."

The second Canadian sled finished the day in 10 th place but was ranked as high as sixth after the first run of the day. Pierre Lueders was the driver, with Neville Wright, Jesse Lumsden and Justin Kripps rounding out the team.

The World Cup season continues this weekend with a race in Winterberg, Germany.

 

Crawford back on her game

Olympic gold medalist Chandra Crawford is finding her legs again after missing all of last season with an ankle injury, slowly but surely advancing through the ranks to her proper place among the leaders. At Dusseldorf, Germany she finished 12 th in the women's one kilometre freestyle sprint after making her way into the semi-finals and into the small final.

Crawford also came out of nowhere after qualifying in 27 th the previous day. There were 58 skiers at the start line for the sprint final.

Crawford's return to form is good enough to qualify for an Olympic berth, as athletes need to qualify in the top-20 to get a spot.

The Canadian women also took part in the team sprint event, but did not qualify for the finals.

Crawford's result came at a good time for the team. Less than two weeks earlier head coach Inge Braten fell on some ice and broke his hip, requiring surgery and a leave of absence from the team. Young star Alex Harvey then slipped in training and hit his head.

Canada has also had a terrible few weeks traveling, with the women's team taking more than 50 hours to get to Finland after someone on their flight was ill.

"We had a tough weekend (in Kuusamo) from losing Inge, and nobody had good results, and that made everyone more edgy," Crawford told reporters. "I am super-relieved and thrilled that I was able to get my Olympic qualifier."

The Canadian men did not take part in the races at Dusseldorf, opting to keep training after disappointing results the previous week.

 

CVTC skier in action at Canmore

The Callaghan Valley Training Centre kicked off its competitive season at the Alberta Cup races in Canmore, facing members of the national team, development team and national training centres.

In the classic one kilometre sprint, Thomsen D'Hont placed 24 th , nine and a half seconds back of the winner and within five seconds of the top 10.

Former CVTC racer Pate Neumann won the eight kilometre freestyle race the following day.

 

Lugers on the podium

Canada's luge team are casting off their underdog status little by little this season and raised the threat level a notch at the most recent World Cup event at Altenberg, Germany.

Sam Edney kicked off the weekend with an eighth place finish, his second result in the top 10 this season.

In women's singles, Meaghan Simister placed 10 th for Canada, matching her career-best performance. Alex Gough placed 12 th and Regan Lauscher 14 th .

German athletes once again accounted for most of the medals in both races, including a medal sweep in the women's race and a gold medal in the men's doubles event.

There was also a team race, where Canada placed third behind Germany and the U.S. The Canadian team included Alex Gough, Sam Edney and the brother tandem of Chris and Mike Moffat.