Whistler Cup juvenile ski races this weekend
A strong two-medal performance at the K2 nationals put Whistler’s Daniel Penn on Team Canada for the Sierra Wireless Whistler Cup juvenile ski races this weekend.
Penn, a K2, was chosen along with Whistler’s Ian-Spence Morrison, a K1, and K2 Georgia Simmerling of Grouse Mountain to represent B.C. on the Canadian squad, along with racers from Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. There will be 10 skiers wearing red and white this year, including six K2’s (age 13 and 14) and four K1’s (age 11 and 12).
Two B.C. Ski Team’s were also named, including several racers from the Whistler Mountain Ski Club.
Team B.C. #1
Jen Mah, K2, WMSC
Victoria Glowczynska, K2, Sun Peaks
Kelsey Serwa, K2, Big White
Trevor Rose, K2, Windermere
Ben Podborski, K2, WMSC
Michael Kearney, K2, WMSC
Brynne Benbow, K1, WMSC
Alecia Willis, K1, Cypress Bowl
Andrew Skain, K1, Fernie
Dawson Newman, K1, Apex
Team B.C. #2
Jordan Wilson, K2, Big White
Sandra MacDonald, K2, Apex
Victoria Whitney, K2, WMSC
Brandon Witt, K2, Big White
Morgan Pridy, K2, WMSC
Smith Milner, K2, WMSC
Rachel Cohen, K1, Kimberley
Madison McLeish, K1, WMSC
Alexander Binks, K1, WMSC
James Rose, K1, Windermere
The Sierra Wireless Whistler Cup is one of only two international juvenile ski races in the world, complementing Italy’s famed Trofeo Topolino event held every year in February. More than 300 racers, including 100 international racers from up to 20 countries, will be competing this weekend.
The weekend kicks off today, Friday, April 2 with a K2 super G on Whistler Mountain. That evening there will be an athlete’s parade through the village at 5 p.m. followed by a national team dinner at the Telus Conference Centre.
On Saturday, the K1’s will race giant slalom and the K2’s will race slalom. The skiers will switch events for Sunday, and the closing awards ceremonies will take place in the village in the afternoon.
The SG and GS will take place on the Raven/Ptarmigan run and the slalom on the Upper Dave Murray Downhill.
For spectators and athletes, the Whistler Cup is an opportunity to see future World Cup and Olympic stars in action. The list of alumni for the event includes skiers like Ivica and Janica Kostelic of Croatia, Nicole Hosp and Benjamin Raich of Austria, Sweden’s Anja Paerson, Italy’s Karen Putzer, and more.
Many of Canada’s own World Cup stars, including Britt Janyk, Michael Janyk, Genevieve Simard, Allison Forsyth, Emily Brydon, Erik Guay, Julien Cousineau, Jean-Philippe Roy and Christina Risler are Whistler Cup veterans.
For more information on the history of the event and the races, visit www.whistlercup.com.
