For the racers lining up at the TELUS Nancy Greene Alpine Classic (TNGAC) Jan. 30 and 31, the weekend was about far more than finish times. Some 34 teams gathered in Sun Peaks with a shared sense of anticipation that blended competition with camaraderie and common cause, not to mention the lure of a guest coaching crew led by Ski Cross Olympian Kelsey Serwa and Willy Raine, who coached five Olympic champions.
All ability levels of skiing or snowboarding are encouraged in the annual event held on the Powder Ventures Cross Course, with no race experience required. The minimum age is 19, and each team must include at least one member of the opposite gender to be eligible for awards. Whether experienced or new to racing, all participants are encouraged to take advantage of the Olympic-level mentorship during the Friday race training session.
Some of the racers were seasoned participants returning year after year, while others were first-timers drawn by the relaxed yet rewarding reputation of the fundraising event. There were racers wearing what Matthias Schmidt from McSporties called “Canadian tuxedos” or blue jeans paired with plaid shirts, others in streamlined racing suits, and one team sporting colourful mohawks on their helmets.
From the nervous energy at the start gate, the rush of racing and the euphoria afterwards, the two-day experience was defined by connection between teammates, rivals, friends and families. All the teams were greeted and cheered on by Nancy Greene Raine herself.
The winners of the Platinum Division was Northern Lights Winery with the Corkscrew Crew, with all four members at least 50 years of age.
Headed up by Pat Bell, there were two squads representing the B.C. winery.
“It is a great privilege for Northern Lights Estate Winery to support and participate in the Nancy Greene Alpine Classic,” Bell said. “We have been involved for more years than I can remember. Seeing the medical centre opening and now supporting the development of a great education facility are causes that are easy to support.”
Although he never expected to reach the podium himself, he was very happy that his second Northern Lights team, The Corkscrew Crew took first place.
“While Sun Peaks is a long way from our home in Prince George, supporting this event has become a priority for our business,” Bell added. “This represents the largest single contribution we make outside our home territory and it has captured our attention. You can count on Northern Lights Estate Winery for 2027!”
Behind the scenes and before the TELUS Nancy Greene Alpine Classic
A 70-strong volunteer team keeps the entire event running smoothly both on and off the snow, and their impact is deeply felt.
“The volunteers are awesome,” Greene-Raine said. “We couldn’t do this without them. That’s why we have the welcome party on Friday night, when all the volunteers are invited.”
Held at The Annex, the evening sets the tone for the weekend — inclusive, appreciative and community-driven — as organizers, volunteers, coaches and racers mix and mingle over appetizers and conversation.
This year the spotlight was on four Olympians — Elli Terwiel, Kelsey Serwa, Willy Raine and Greene Raine — who hosted a Q&A about their experiences in elite international ski racing. Barb Kupferschmidt Linder, one of the founders of the Sun Peaks Education Society, delivered a presentation featuring a touching video that highlighted the impressive accomplishments of Sun Peaks School graduates.
Clocking up $964,000 in fundraising by 2025, the event has always emphasized the balance between sport and community purpose.
“It’s about fun, friends, food and funds,” Greene Raine said, neatly summing up the “4Fs” ethos that has kept the event thriving for nearly three decades.
“It’s been going 29 years — since 1997,” she explained. “Originally, for the first three years, the fundraising helped pay off the debt for the Sun Peaks Alpine Ski Club cabin. Then it supported the Sun Peaks Health Association to help build the clinic. Now we’re raising money for community facilities in the new school. This year, we’ll pass the $1-million raised mark.”
Post-race festivities
After Saturday races, the experience culminated off the snow at the gala and auction, held in the Sun Peaks Grand Ballroom. With a capacity of 240 people, the evening unites racers, sponsors, organizers and community members in celebration and fundraising. Plaques are awarded across a range of team and individual categories, alongside a well-supported silent auction.
The live auction featured big-ticket items including a two-person, two-day journey aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, and it was Bell who put in the winning bid for that.
“My wife Brenda and I look forward to fulfilling one of our bucket list items,” he said.
Alongside community members, corporate supporters play a pivotal role each year, with TELUS bringing seven teams from B.C. and Alberta, alongside many other sponsors closely tied to Sun Peaks and the wider community.
Communications director Cora Tataru said the 2026 event attracted 29 sponsors, up from 22 the previous year, with TELUS continuing as the title sponsor.
New 2026 sponsors included FINNING, Powder Hounds, Sun Peaks Cargo, Rowyn Koller Design, Bridgeport Floors, Portfolio Interiors, Bluebird Market, Altitude Plumbing and Heating, and Lift Total Health.
“We are grateful for all our returning sponsors and donors, and pleased to see new supporters coming onboard,” Tataru said.
The first $30,000 from the 2026 fundraising will support the operational costs of the Sun Peaks Mountain Academy.
“The rest of the proceeds go into a capital fund held by the Sun Peaks Educational Society and dedicated to getting community facilities included in a future school,” Tataru explained. “Last but not least, every year we contribute a small donation towards the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation.”
Looking ahead, special features are already being planned by the organizing committee for next year’s signature 30th Anniversary TELUS Nancy Greene Alpine Classic.
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