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Sports Briefs: Read steps down from Own the Podium

Canadian alpine ski legend and Crazy Canuck Ken Read has stepped down from his position as director of winter sport at Own the Podium, the national funding program credited with Canada's success at home during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, as well a
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Canadian alpine ski legend and Crazy Canuck Ken Read has stepped down from his position as director of winter sport at Own the Podium, the national funding program credited with Canada's success at home during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, as well as recent success in a variety of winter sports. Read said it was important to think long term, now that the pieces are in place for the Winter Games in 2014.

"Own the Podium's recent focus has been to secure the necessary funding winter sports require to contend to be number one in Sochi (in 2014)," said Read. "With a record financial commitment made by our partners that is now in place, it was time to consider the leadership of winter sport within Own the Podium.

"There is never a good time to make these changes, but it was my strong belief that continuity is critical if we wish to maintain our focus on being a world leader in winter sport. Much of the leg work for 2014 is now complete so I believe this is an opportune time to recruit and immerse a talented individual into the program who will carry the torch well beyond 2018 for Canada's winter sports athletes."

Read as been a director at Own the Podium since May 2010 when the program was renewed with $30 million annually in federal funding. In January, it was announced that the federal government would boost funding to Canadian sport by an additional $31 million in the run-up to the 2014 Games in Sochi.

A replacement director has yet to be named.

Second annual 'Spirit of Sarah' scholarship offered

Momentum Ski Camps and the Sarah Burke Foundation are combining resources to offer the second annual Spirit of Sarah Scholarship in honour of fallen freeskier Sarah Burke. In 2012, 16-year-old Emma Stevens of Nova Scotia won the scholarship, which was for a week at Momentum Ski Camps during Girls Ski Week. The value of the package is $2,300, and applicants are asked to submit a three-to-five minute video presentation to plead their case. The panel of judges will pick the applicant they feel most closely embodies Burke's "special strengths and characteristics."

"The additional summer training (the scholarship) provided me with a good head start and helped me ease into this year's season a lot smoother," said Stevens. "It isn't so much the training... that has helped me the most. Meeting all the pro skiers and hearing their own success stories directly from them really helped me see where I want to go, and it gave me that extra push to want to strive for greatness."

The Sarah Burke Foundation is also offering two separate scholarships to the program valued at $7,500, which means at least three girls taking part that week will be there with some financial assistance.

Burke started training at Momentum Ski Camps when she was 14 years old, and returned every year as a coach when she was old enough to make the switch. The Sarah Burke Foundation was established by Burke's husband, Rory Bushfield, and others using funds that were donated to help cover the cost of Burke's hospital bills, as well as other fundraising efforts including stickers and jewelry based on Burke's snowflake tattoo. For more on the foundation, visit www.sarahburkefoundation.com.

Taekwondo athletes on podium

Whistler TKD students took part in the B.C. Taekwondo Championships held at Capilano University on Sunday, Mar. 3, with several athletes finishing on the podium.

Sean Cyr, 8 and Justin Darnbrough, 9, won bronze medals at the meet, while Connor Darnbrough, 11, brought home the silver medal. Master Tony Cook accompanied the students to the competition.

Visit www.whistlertaekwondo.com for more on the program.

Yeti goes on, despite the rain

The Yeti Snowshoe Series dropped into Whistler Olympic Park on Saturday, Mar. 2, and conditions couldn't have been worse with heavy rain from start to finish. That kept the numbers low with just 25 people racing.

The top three racers were women, with Melanie Gabanna finishing first, Dorothy Raffo in second and Barb Sweeney third with times of 39:20, 29:29 and 39:51 respectively. Cameron Gillis led the men in 40:03, followed by David Little in 43:03 and Mike Cater in 44:09.

WMSC sX racers top Grand Prix

Whistler Mountain Ski Club alums and current B.C. Ski Cross Team members Tyler Murray and Sarah Lepine headed to The Canyons in Utah for the U.S. Grand Prix races, also recognized as a NorAm Cup level competition although with a slightly bigger prize purse — $42,000 for the top men and women.

Because of the prize purse the event attracted a lot of World Cup level skiers like French skier Ophelie David — arguably the most successful ski cross racer of all time — and members of the U.S. National team. Canada's Stan Hayer came out of retirement to compete.

Lepine managed to qualify the semi-finals, getting up from a fall and making a pass before the end of the race to earn a spot in the small final where she placed seventh overall. "I was way out in front when I crashed of the 60-foot jump," said Lepine in a release from the Whistler Mountain Ski Club. "But it's the nature of the sport. It's really unpredictable, which is why we love it."

Ophelie David took the win, followed by Americans Madeline Riffel and Langely McNeal, while Canada's India Sherret placed fourth.

On the men's side, Hayer placed third. Tyler Murray placed seventh overall out of 20 racers, and was the second Canadian in the race.

Meanwhile, at a FIS and Junior World Cup event in Mittenwald, Germany, Whistler's Marielle Thompson finished on top in the junior category in two different races. None of the other men or women on the Canadian team competed.

Events Calendar

What: King of the Rail

When: Mar. 9, 7 p.m.

Where: Base of Whistler Mountain

The final event in the King of the Rail series. Registration is at 6:00 p.m. at Showcase Snowboards, followed by a 1.5 hour jam on a series of rails set up at the base of the mountain. Athletes themselves vote for the winners in each category, with the athletes who get the most votes getting a cash prize based on the number of entries in their group. All participants are eligible to win draw prizes. Registration is $15.

What: Kokanee Valley Race Series

When: Mar. 14

Where: TBA

The seventh out of eight events in the Kokanee Valley Race Series is a giant slalom at a venue to be named. Early registration is $30 online, by phone or at Whistler Blackcomb Guest Relations, and day-of-race registration is $35.

The final event is the Dual GS and Team Relay event on Mar. 21.

What: Sea to Sky Nordic Festival

When: Mar. 15 to Mar. 30

Where: Whistler Olympic Park

This is the national championships for cross-country, biathlon, ski jumping and Nordic combined, all rolled up into one event. Some 800 athletes are expected to take part over 16 days of competition. For more info on the events or to volunteer, visit www.seatoskynordicfestival.ca.