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WMSC skiers all over the map, and podium

It was a busy weekend for the Whistler Mountain Ski Club. The junior and FIS teams went to the Hershey Cup races at Nakiska, Alberta, for a four-day slalom and giant slalom series.

It was a busy weekend for the Whistler Mountain Ski Club. The junior and FIS teams went to the Hershey Cup races at Nakiska, Alberta, for a four-day slalom and giant slalom series. Members of the K2 team (ages 13 and 14) took part in the two-day Enquist Slalom at Seymour Mountain.

Nakiska Hershey Cup – Feb. 28 to March 3

Against some of the strongest competition they have faced all season, including a number of international competitors from as far away as Slovakia and the Czech Republic, the Canadian and Whistler skiers did well at the Nakiska Hershey Cup.

"Our athletes responded well to challenging conditions and tough sets in a high profile race," said head coach Jordan Williams. "We can really see the work that began in November come through as they are able to elevate their race day abilities.

"The athletes are really beginning to plan tactically for each run and push themselves to a better performance each day, which is leading to good results. The timing is perfect as the most important races of the season are beginning."

In the first giant slalom on Feb. 28, Canadian junior champion Shona Rubens of Calgary easily won the gold medal with both of the fastest runs of the day. She finished 1.67 seconds ahead of Pavla Raclavska of the Czech Republic, and was more than two seconds faster than Stacey Cook of the U.S.

WMSC racer Charlotte Whitney was fifth, and one one-hundredth of a second out of fourth. She kept the club’s medal streak alive with her performance, earning the junior silver medal for her performance.

Whistler’s Jennifer Bertram, racing with the B.C. Ski Team, was sixth. Rachel Walker, another Whistler skier on the B.C. team, was 19 th , and WMSC standout Anastasia Skryabina was 21 st overall.

In the men’s race, Whistler’s Robbie Dixon finished in second place for the B.C. team, finishing behind Ted Piccard of France. Sean Cochrane, Graham Kraft, Tyler Harrison, all of B.C. Ski Team, were third, fourth and sixth.

For the WMSC, Jamie Finlayson and Marcus Waring tied for 11 th , Chris Bellany was 28 th , Ben Chaddock 29 th , Chris Colpitts 33 rd , and Chris McCullough 38 th . Jerry McArthur, James Charlton and Ian McDonald also participated.

In the second GS on March 1, Shona Rubens took the gold yet again, followed by Jennifer Bertram and Paval Raclavska. Anastasia Skryabina and Charlotte Whitney were 15 th and 16 th for the WMSC.

The Canadian men swept the podium, with B.C. skiers Sean Cochrane and Graham Kraft taking first and second, and Trevor White of Calgary finishing third.

Jamie Finlayson moved up for the WMSC and finished in seventh. Marcus Waring was ninth, Ben Chaddock 17 th , Chris Bellamy 26 th , and Chris Colpitts 33 rd . Blake Jamieson, Jerry McArthur, Ian McDonald and James Charlton also raced.

The first slalom on March 2 went to Maria Kvopkova of Slovakia, followed by national team member Anna Prchal and Shona Rubens. Anastasia Skryabina and Charlotte Whitney were 17 th and 20 th for Whistler.

Scott Anderson of the B.C. team took the men’s slalom, edging out Dana Greenwood of the U.S. Nathan Crompton of the development team was third. Graham Kraft and Aaron Civitarese cracked the top 10 for the provincial team, finishing fifth and ninth respectively.

Whistler’s Chris Bellamy was 14th, jamie Finalyson 16 th , Chris Colpitts 21 st , and Trevor Conroy 22 nd . Blake Jamieson, Chris McCullough, Jerry McArthur, James Charlton and Ian McDonald also raced well.

In the fourth and final day of competition, Anna Prchal was the lone Canadian to make the podium, finishing third behind Maria Kvopkova of Slovakia and Pavla Raclavska of the Czech Republic.

Charlotte Whitney and Anastasia Skryabina were solid once again, finishing 16 th and 17 th respectively.

In the men’s competition, Scott Anderson won a second gold for the B.C. team, this time by a full 1.8 seconds. Graham Kraft was second for the province, and Ted Piccard earned a second medal for France.

James Finlayson was ninth for the WMSC, Chris Bellamy was 11 th , Marcus Waring 14 th , and Chris Colpitts 24 th . Jerry McArthur, James Charlton and Ian McDonald also finished for the club.

Mount Seymour Enquist Slalom – March 2 to 3

The Whistler Mountain Ski Club K2’s continued to dominate Lower Mainland competition last weekend, winning eight out of 12 medals in the Mount Seymour Enquist Slalom.

Jeff Hutton of Grouse Mountain won the first slalom, edging past Whistler’s Mathew Holler by 0.03 seconds. James McLean finished third for the WMSC.

Six other WMSC racers cracked the top 15 – Conrad Pridy in fourth, Ryan Vaisler eighth, Rey Stanislas 12 th , Thomas Kasperkiewicz 14 th and Lake Philip 15 th . John Burke was the top J1 (age 15 and 16 racer), finishing ninth overall.

Jennifer Graham of Mt. Washington won the girl’s slalom with a 2.54 second buffer between her and the WMSC’s Kendall Benbow. Alison Leighton, also of the WMSC, was third.

Nine other Whistler girls finished in the top 15. Nadia Samer was fourth, Danielle Robson fifth, Katherine Cape eighth, Keely Coxon 10th, Haley McLeish 11 th , Alexandria Browne-Munz 12 th , Shannon Smith 13 th , and Jillian McArthur 15 th . Andra Nedelcu was the top G1, finishing in sixth overall.

On day two, Jeff Hutton and Mathew Holler finished first and second once again. Peter Collins of Mt. Washington was third.

The WMSC put eight other racers in the top 15. James McLean was fourth, Conrad Pridy sixth, Jonathan Wells ninth, Thomas Kasperkiewicz 10th, James McSkimming 12 th , Rey Stanislas 13 th , and Philip Lake 15 th . John Burke won the J1 category once again, and finished 11 th overall.

The girls nearly swept the last event, with Whistler’s Kendall Benbow winning gold and teammate Alison Leighton earning the bronze. Andra Nedelcu was second overall and first among the J1 racers.

Five other WMSC skiers made the top 15. Nadia Samer finished fifth, Katherine Cape eighth, Taryn Ng 12 th , Jillian McArthur 14 th , and Danielle Robson 15 th .

The Enquist overall trophies wen to Jeff Hutton and Whistler’s Kendall Bowbow.

The week before, 12 athletes from the Whistler Mountain Ski Club travelled to Panorama with head K2 coach Patrick Demers for the nationals time trials. The trials decide which athletes will represent B.C. at the Junior National Championships in Panorama from Mar. 18 to 23.

Nine of the athletes qualified out of 23 available spots, giving the club more representatives than any other club in the province. The women’s team will include Kendall Benbow, Alison Leighton, Danielle Robson, Vanessa Disler, Keely Coxon and Julia Murray. The men’s team will include Matt Holler, Darren Chaddock and Taylor Self.