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Swette, Patterson win medals at K2 nationals

Whistler skiers chosen for Team Canada, Team B.C. at Whistler Cup

Silver Star resort played host to almost 200 K2 skiers (age 13 to 14) who came from across Canada for last week’s K2 national championships. At stake were national titles in super G, super combined, slalom and giant slalom, as well as spots on national and provincial teams for this weekend’s Sierra Wireless Whistler Cup juvenile ski races.

The Whistler Mountain Ski Club sent a large team to the nationals this year after dominating the provincials, and found themselves up against strong teams from Quebec, Ontario and Alberta.

In the opening super G, Ford Swette of the WMSC placed second, in between Quebec’s Julian Sheiner and Jerome Tremblay. William Konantz of Whistler was fifth, just over half a second back of the podium, while Spencer Morris rounded out the top-30 in 21 st position.

In the women’s opening super combined race, Claudia Paquin-Ricard of Le Massif, Quebec took the gold, followed by Tianda Carroll of Jasper, Alberta and Julia Roth of Devil’s Glen, Ontario. Whistler’s top skier was Jocelyn Ramsden in sixth place, 0.3 seconds off the podium. Kailee Darlington was ninth and Eve Zessel 26 th to round out the top-30.

The next day the races were reversed with women racing super G and the men’s super combined.

Thomas Grand and Morgan Megarry of Ontario were first and second, followed by Jerome Tremblay of Quebec. Whistler’s Ford Swette and William Konantz were the top B.C. skiers in 12 th and 13 th .

Claudia Paquin-Ricard picked up her second gold medal in the women’s super G, followed by Gillian Chisholm of Ontario. Whistler’s Mackenzie Patterson, the provincial champion, finished third.

WMSC skiers Elyse Timoshenko, Jocelyn Ramsden and Kailee Darlington were 25 th , 26 th and 27 th respectively.

Whistler’s Spencer Morris was the top B.C. skier in the slalom race, placing fifth, 0.39 seconds back of third place. The top two spots went to Quebec skiers Morgan Megarry and Guillaume Vermette, with Bruce Faster of Ontario third.

Also from Whistler, Daniel Kwong was 19 th .

Elyse Timoshenko just missed the podium in the women’s slalom, placing fourth. Teammate Kailee Darilington was 12 th , Jocelyn Ramsden 19 th , and Eve Zessel 28 th .

The top two spots went to Samantha Bisnaire and Devon Clarke of Ontario, with Alberta’s Tianda Carroll third.

The final event, a giant slalom was interrupted by snow. Julia Roth and Gillian Chisholm of Ontario were first and second, and Tianda Carroll was third. From Whistler, Jocelyn Ramsden was sixth, Elyse Timoshenko seventh, Mackenzie Patterson 10 th , and Kailee Darlington 22 nd .

The men’s race was interrupted by snow, but the race was claimed by Julian Sheiner of Quebec, followed by Michael Law of Alberta and Thomas Grand of Ontario.

From the WMSC, William Konantz was seventh, Daniel Kwong eighth, and Spencer Morris 15 th .

Following the nationals, Team Canada picked its team for the upcoming Whistler Cup races. Whistler’s contribution to the men’s team is Ford Swette, the lone B.C. skier to qualify, while Mackenzie Patterson and Jocelyn Ramsden will be representing the province on the women’s side.

Only Kaylie Higgs from the WMSC was chosen for the national K1 team (ages 11-12).

More WMSC skiers made the cut to represent Team B.C., including Alix Wells, Rae Swette, Charley Field, Emma King, Blake Ramsden, Brodie Seger and Logan Pehota.

Canada won the overall team title at the 2007 Whistler Cup for the first time in the event’s 15-year history. As defending champions, the Canadians will be targeted by the other nations at the Whistler Cup.