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Winding up for winter

Popular race, terrain park events back on for the 2008-2009 winter season

With a based of over 50 cm, and more snow falling over the past week winter is very much on everyone’s mind as we count down to the opening day on Nov. 27.

But while skiing and snowboarding are just fine as recreational sports, there are some people who like to go fast, go big, and push themselves to another level — even if it’s just a local competition.

Tune your edges and grind your bases for the return of competitions like the Kokanee Valley Race Series, the Park Rider Sessions, the Atomic Ski and Snowboard races, the King/Queen of the Rails jams. Some test speed, others test style, and some events test both.

All events are amateur, hosted by Whistler-Blackcomb with support from other sponsors for prizes and post contest food and refreshments. They’re usually cheap to enter ($25 to $35), and emphasize participation by offering draw prizes to all the competitors instead of the competitors on the podium. The judged events are usually called by former athletes with a lot of experience in national and international contests, with the exception of the King/Queen of the Rails contest where the athletes judge themselves.

But while it’s all for fun, keep in mind that our local winter events have been stepping stones to the national team for athletes like Dan Raymond, Ryan Rausch, Derek Wintermans, Mercedes Nicoll, Ashleigh McIvor, Davey Barr and others — many of whom will be competing at home in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

So without further ado, here’s how you can get involved in some great events this season, elevate your skiing and riding, and add an edge to your winter.

Kokanee Valley Race Series

This long-running series is for alpine skiing enthusiasts who like to go fast, crash gates, and push their technical skills, and gear, to the limit. Or just like the very social post-race events, where every participant has a chance to win draw prizes like a new pair of Atomic skis. There are also cash prizes in the pro category this year based on participation.

Open to skiers, snowboarders and telemarkers aged 19 and over, this is one of the most representative events in Whistler, with the addition of an 80-plus age category for men a few years ago. The field includes everything from former World Cup skiers, some racing in their former Canadian Alpine Ski Team speed suits, to recreational skiers who enjoy speeding through the gates at the Pontiac Race Centre (opening Dec. 15) and want to step things up a notch. It’s also an excellent way to train gate skiing for the annual Peak to Valley race, which goes from the top of The Saddle to Creekside base.

There are eight races in the series, all on Thursdays, and a pass for the entire series is $160. For individual races, the cost is $25 in advance at guest relations and $30 on race day with registration in the Rendezvous Lodge or at the top of the Garbanzo Express chair, depending on whether the race is on Whistler or Blackcomb.

Races are Dec. 18 (GS on Blackcomb), Jan. 8 (GS on Blackcomb), Jan. 15 (super G on Blackcomb), Jan. 22 (GS on Whistler), Feb. 19 (slalom on Whistler), Feb. 26 (super G on Blackcomb), March 19 (GS on Blackcomb), and March 26 (dual slalom and team race on Blackcomb).

Park Rider Sessions

If there’s one event that pushes young riders and skiers to new levels each year, it’s the Park Rider Sessions, presented by Telus. There are five events in the series this year, including a rail jam, three slopestyle competitions, and a halfpipe.

All ages are welcome, skiers and snowboarders, and helmets are mandatory — and other forms of protection, like mouthguards and pads, are strongly recommended.

Participants should also register early, especially for popular slopestyle events and the rail jam. Organizers do their best to accommodate everybody, but they are following a schedule and sometimes need to limit field size for different age categories.

The entry fee is $25 in advance at Guest Relations or $30 on race day in either the Rendezvous Lodge or Roundhouse Lodge until 9:45 a.m., depending on which mountain the event is being held. The contests usually get underway at around 10:30 a.m. with music, live commentary, and some real time feedback from the judges. The atmosphere is positive and progressive, and athletes are encouraged to try bigger rails and newer and bigger tricks.

The awards are at 4 p.m. daily at 18 Below at Blackcomb Base II, and include video playback of the event, free refreshments, and draw prizes from sponsors (including skis and snowboards at some events).

Dates are Dec. 14 (Rail Jam on Whistler), Jan. 11 (slopestyle on Whistler), Feb. 15 and March 22 (slopestyle on Blackcomb), and April 5 (halfpipe on Blackcomb). In recent years the final halfpipe event has also been a qualifier for the superpipe event at the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival.

King of the Rail, Queen of the Rail

The King of the Rail, and women’s-only Queen of the Rail, is a huge success story for the Whistler-Blackcomb events department.

It takes place under the lights on Saturday evenings at the base of Blackcomb. There are just two lines and four rails, but they attract upwards of 150 athletes and twice as many spectators. There’s music, live commentary, and the athletes themselves are the judges at the end of the evening.

The winner in each category receives prize money based on the number of entries, and all participants — skiers and snowboarders of all ages — are eligible to win draw prizes from Showcase, Glacier Shop, Atomic, Nintendo, Telus, DNA. Participants also get food and refreshments at the awards.

The cost is $15 to enter, with registration getting underway at 5 p.m. by the Magic Chair. Helmets are mandatory, and riders under the age of 18 need a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.

There is a mandatory competitor meeting at 5:45 p.m. and the contest runs from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

King of the Rail contests are Dec. 27, Jan. 10, Feb. 14, and March 21. The Queen of the Rail contest is on XX

Atomic Ski and Snowboard Cross

There are two Atomic Ski and Snowboard Cross events on the calendar this year, Jan. 17-18 and March 28-29, both taking place on Blackcomb.

With the inclusion of both events in the Olympics (snowboardcross in 2006 and skicross in 2010), local clubs like the Whistler Valley Snowboard Club, Whistler Freeride Club and Whistler Mountain Ski Club fill the youth categories. The adult categories are also competitive, and have helped launch the careers of a few athletes on the provincial and national teams.

The cost is $35 in advance at guest relations, or $40 for the day of the event. The first day is always a training and seeding day, and the second day starts with training before moving into the brackets. Helmets are mandatory, full-face helmets and other protective gear are recommended.

This year there are 16 spots available in each age category, so advance registration is strongly recommended.

Again, all participants are eligible to win draw prizes including a pair of Atomic skis.

Masters Recreational Race Series

There are three events over two weekends in the Masters series this year, which is basically a Kokanee Valley Race Series for weekenders but with an emphasis on recreation. The cost is $25 in advance or $30 on race day to register.

There are two divisions. The racer division is more competitive, with a two-run combined time format, while the sport division is for recreational skiers and only the best of two runs count. Race suits are allowed in the racer division, but not in sport.

The minimum age is 19 to race, and a wide range of age categories are available.

All participants are eligible to win draw prizes at the awards, including a pair of Atomic skis.

The first event is a giant slalom on Feb. 1, meeting at Raven’s Nest on Whistler. Day of race registration and bib pickup is available until 9:45 a.m.

The other two GS races in the series are on Feb. 21 and 22, meeting in the video trailer at the top of the Garbanzo lift.

Telus Winter Classic — Jan. 23-24

The 17 th annual Telus Winter Classic is a fundraiser for the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation and features food and wine events, a gala fundraiser and auction, a chance to ski with a pro, lift line privileges, and a fun group race on three very different courses, including a basic GS, a ski/snowboard cross-style course, and a snow bike race.

Registration and a full schedule is at ww1.whistlerblackcomb.com/wbfoundation/

Appleton Rum Peak to Valley Race — Feb. 6-7

This event sells out every summer, but there may still be opportunities to join teams that have lost racers right up until race day.

The Peak to Valley is the longest GS course in the world, with competitors carving around 180 gates along a 1,440 metre descent from the top of The Saddle to the finish line in Creekside.

Registration is closed, but closer to the date the organizers may start a waitlist to match people with teams for the race.

Showcase Showdown 2009 — Feb. 27-28

This snowboard event, which in recent years has followed a pipestyle format — a modified halfpipe with built-in slopestyle and rail jam components — does have an open qualifier for riders not on the invite list. The qualifiers take place over two days with male and female riders eliminated after each round, then finishes with a grand final under the lights at Base II. More details will be available as the event gets closer.

Mum’s Mountain Classic — April 1

This fun Mother’s Day race follows a match-time format, where racers make one run and then try to guess their time for run number two. The smallest difference determines the winner. The day includes a morning coffee, race practice, the race, lunch at the Rendezvous and specials on Whistler-Blackcomb’s child care programs for the day. The theme for 2009 is Pirates of the Caribbean.

The cost is $40 in advance at Whistler-Blackcomb Guest Relations, or $45 on the day of the race.

Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival — April 17-26

The Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival has several ski and snowboard competitions, most of which are invite-only. However, in past years organizers have opened up a few spots in the qualifiers to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, as well as presenting the winners of a previous Telus Park Rider Sessions halfpipe a few spots in the contest. More details will be available this winter at www.wssf.com.

Several other events take place over the winter season, including fundraisers like the Ronald McDonald House corporate race in March. Whistler-Blackcomb is also hosting an International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Cup event in March, as well as youth events like the Whistler Cup, the B.C. High School Championship Race, the Burnaby Vancouver Race League Finals, the North Shore High School Championship Race, the Fraser Valley Ski League Race Finals, and others.