Around 160 competitors took to the slopes in Sun Peaks for three days of racing in the first ever Teck Open Series race, hosted by the Sun Peaks Alpine Club on December 12 to 14.
Montana Molyneux, head coach of the Sun Peaks Alpine Club said the competition level was “really high,” with a mix of U16, U18 and FIS racers from B.C., Ontario and Alberta.
“It went pretty well. It was great to have the younger racers exposed to some of the older and more experienced competitors. The weather was good, and everyone left pretty happy with the first series under their belt. We were really happy to host the event here in Sun Peaks,” Molyneux said.
Ontario’s Kevin Drury dominated the Men’s Open division, taking a gold medal for each race across the three days of competition.
Whistler Mountain Ski Club (WMSC) had a strong showing on Day One, with a clean sweep of the podium in the Men’s U16 division, led by Kyle Alexander. Ella Renzoni took our first place in the U16 and Open Women’s divisions for WMSC.
Day Two saw Grouse-Tyee Ski Club pick up their first gold, with France MacDonald securing first place for the U16 and Open Women’s divisions, while Whistler’s Kasper Woolley took out first place for the U16 Men.
Day Three saw Grouse-Tyee’s Kristina Natalenko claim her first gold medal of the series, winning the U16 and Open divisions after podium finishes on the previous two days.
Results:
Day One
Women Open and U16: 1. Ella Renzoni (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:01.87 2. Kristina Natalenko (Grouse-Tyee) 1:02.87 3. Katie Fleckenstein (WMSC) 1:03.59.
Men Open: 1. Kevin Drury (Ontario) 54.82 2. Trent McCarthy (Alberta) 56.84 3. Kyle Alexander (WMSC) 57.63.
Men U16: 1. Kyle Alexander (WMSC) 2. Max Kirshenblatt (WMSC) 57.79 3. Masashi Tsutsumi (WMSC) 58.30.
Day Two
Women Open: 1. Frances MacDonald (Grouse-Tyee) 1:55.57 2. Gabrielle Smith (WMSC) 1:55.72 3. Kristina Natalenko (Grouse-Tyee) 1:55.94.
Women U16: 1. Frances MacDonald (Grouse-Tyee) 1:55. 2. Kristina Natalenko (Grouse-Tyee) 1:55.94. 3. Katie Fleckenstein (WMSC) 1:58.83.
Men Open: 1. Kevin Drury (Ontario) 1:39.53 2. Max Kirshenblatt (WMSC) 1:43.44 3. Kole Harle (WMSC) 1:46.63.
Men U16: 1. Kasper Woolley (WMSC) 1:48.56 2. Masashi Tsutsumi (WMSC) 1:50.06 3. Ryan Finley (Fernie) 1:50:78.
Day Three
Women Open and U16: 1. Kristina Natalenko (Grouse-Tyee) 1:58.38 2. Katie Fleckenstein (WMSC) 1:58.50 3. Frances MacDonald (Grouse-Tyee) 1:59.11.
Men Open 1. Kevin Drury (Ontario) 1:37.47 2. Max Kirshenblatt (WMSC) 1:41.19 3. Kris Mahler (Alberta) 1:42.75.
Men U16 1. Kyle Alexander (WMSC) 1:45.92 2. Gavin Donald (Vernon) 1:48.51 3. Peter Konigsmann (Cypress) 1:48.93.
Full results visit the B.C. Alpine website.
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