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World Cup star, ski coaches take KVRS

The retirement of snowboard legend Darren Chalmers lasted less than five weeks. On Jan. 16, the 32-year-old took part in the third event of the Kokanee Valley Race Series, a giant slalom on the Raven and Old Crow runs on Whistler Mountain.

The retirement of snowboard legend Darren Chalmers lasted less than five weeks. On Jan. 16, the 32-year-old took part in the third event of the Kokanee Valley Race Series, a giant slalom on the Raven and Old Crow runs on Whistler Mountain. He blew away the other pro snowboarders with a time of one minute, 37.8 seconds over two runs, almost 14 seconds faster than the next best snowboarder, and faster than a number of skiers as well.

In the pro skier category, a nice rivalry is developing between a pair of Whistler Mountain Ski Club coaches. In the first race, World Cup downhill great Rob Boyd got the better of Sead Causevic, a former FIS racer. The pair missed the second event due to coaching obligations, but returned for the third race where Causevic got the better of Boyd by a 0.44 seconds.

The biggest winner in the fun race series was undoubtedly Jules Lajoie, who walked away with the draw prize of a pair of Atomic R.EX skis.

The turnout keeps growing with every event. This week there were 96 competitors, up from just over 70 the week before.

The next race on the calendar is a slalom on Whistler on Feb. 6. To register, drop by any of the Whistler-Blackcomb Ski School sales locations at Blackcomb Daylodge, Whistler Village Gondola or the Carleton Lodge, or call 1-800-766-0449.

Registration is also available on race day in the Rendezvous for Blackcomb races and at Raven’s Nest for Whistler races up until 10 a.m.

Complete results from KVRS races are available on the Whistler-Blackcomb Web site at www.whistler-blackcomb.com/calendar/events/kokanee.asp

KVRS Results, Jan. 16 (top three)

Pro Women

1. Liz Thompson, 1:33.10

Pro Men

1. Sead Causevic, 1:22.96

2. Rob Boyd, 1:23.38

3. Niwa Motoaki, 1:23.67

Pro Snowboarders

1. Darren Chalmers, 1:37.80

2. Scott Gillis, 1:51.63

3. Ian Hadgkiss, 1:54.28

Pro Telemarkers

1. Alex Cogger, 1:48.04

2. Gavin Christie, 1:54.46

3. Grant Ringham, 1:55.88

Women 60-Plus

1. Grace Oaks, 1:43.31

Women 50 to 59

1. Randall Carpenter, 1:42.08

Women 40 to 49

1. Janine Linder Joris, 1:33.65

2. Terry Vincent, 1.36.50

3. Kary Firstbrook, 1:36.52

Women 30 to 39

1. Leah Hunter, 1:49.12

2. Shirley Hui, 1:50.74

3. Sarah Bourne, 2:00.78

Women 19 to 29

1. Brook Martin, 1:48.53

2. Clare Pickering, 1:54.76

3. Sarah Plummer, 1:55.86

Women Snowboarders

Michele Rideout, 2:12.06

Men Snowboarders

1. William Young

Men 70-Plus

1. Werner Himmelsbach, 1:48.09

2. Douglas Deeks, 1:56.293.

3. Gar Robinson, 1:56.51

Men 60 to 69

1. Bob Switzer, 1:30.86

2. David Trussler, 1:33.54

3. George Struck, 2:07.10

Men 50 to 59

1. Neil Mawdsley, 1:35.33

2. Jules Lajoie, 1:37.91

3. John Townsend, 1:40.19

Men 40 to 49

1. Rick Lewon, 1:26.11

2. Russell Clark, 1:29.38

3. David Newton, 1:29.43

Men 30 to 39

1. Robert Jaffe, 1:30.99

2. JP Trottier, 1:31.54

3. Geoff Gerhart, 1:32.00

Men 19 to 29

1. Jess Laframboise, 1:37.03

2. Koichi Nagumo, 1:37.63

3. Brett Allen, 1:39.94