To celebrate a long-running speed skiing event in Sun Peaks, members of the marketing team at Sun Peaks Resort LLP (SPR) installed four signs atop the Sunburst chairlift highlighting the event and its significance.
The Velocity Challenge/World Cup Speed Skiing event was discontinued in 2018, though since 1989, spectators were able to cast their gaze up from the top of Sunburst as skiers zoomed down Headwalls at top speed during the competition.
“It was only able to run that long because we had local volunteers and sponsors that got behind it for so many years,” said director of communications for SPR, Christina Antoniak. “So I think that’s just a wonderful testament to our community here at Sun Peaks.”
A handful of racers, volunteers, sponsors and resort employees came together on March 19 to view the signs and reflect on the history of speed skiing in Sun Peaks and the community that made it possible.
Speed Skiing and the Velocity Challenge
On the world class Headwalls race track, according to the erected signs, racers would speed toward the area surrounding the Sunburst Lodge, commonly reaching speeds of 170 km/h.
After 2002, the Velocity Challenge merged with an FIS Speed Skiing World Cup and at the end of the event, the coveted Velocity Challenge trophy was awarded to the fastest men and women competitors.
The course in Sun Peaks had a shorter runoff for skiers to slow than many other courses, as well as another unique aspect due to its convex roller, contributing to the feeling of the ground dropping out from under the racers.
As insurance costs rose, Antoniak said it became more difficult to find sponsors to contribute to the event.
“I think that’s what’s led to the event coming to a close in North America,” she explained. “But it’s still very much a thing in Europe.”
Non-skiers were able to access the Sunburst chair to view this event as well, Antoniak said, which she described as a highlight of the winter.
“When it was running, it was a pretty significant event that took many, many, many days to do the course build and get the track set for the competition,” she added.
Those involved and the sign viewing event
Kenny Dale and Lark Frolek-Dale, who represented Canada at the 1992 Winter Olympic Games in Albertville, France where Speed Skiing was a demonstration sport, attended the gathering to celebrate the legacy of the sign installation as original organizers of the event.
Another initial organizer, Adam Earle, was not able to attend. Cathy Earle, who joined Adam as they took over event organization in 2000, was absent as well.
Many other local folks were involved in this event throughout the years, and the ones who showed up on March 19 included Katheryn Coleman, Scott Coleman, Elia Ganderski, Glen Martin, Duncan Currie, Teria Davies, Jason White, Dave Molyneaux, Scott Whitecross, Joan Gardner, Stephanie Geddes, Niel Otsig and Marg Kosolofski, along with Aaron Macdonald and Sandra Gregory from SPR.
“Everyone was just in such nice spirits, really happy to see the signs in place, really happy that there’s a permanent nod to the many, many years that the event was going on, and the dedication from so many people that it took to run that event every year,” Antoniak said about this gathering.
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