COUPE GMC CUP SPEED EVENT - HAMPERED BY FOG
The WMSC F.I.S. Team returned home last Thursday night from 10 days at Apex Mountain participating in a speed training camp and The Coupe GMC Cup Downhill and Super G Event. After delays and cancellations, racing finally got underway on Monday; but Mother Nature chose not to cooperate fully.
The athletes spent most of the early part of Monday morning slipping to course as they had received 12 cm of new snow overnight. The course was declared race ready, forerunners and the women were ready to go. However, after only 7 athletes, the heavy fog rolled in once again. Much to everyone’s disappointment, the race was cancelled due to the poor visibility. Volunteers and race crew would reconvene in the afternoon in ho
pes of running the men’s race.
Mother Nature provided the athletes and race crew with what proved to be only a short window of opportunity and after only 46 of 78 men had run, the race was called. More fog! As the week went on poor visibility would be a real challenge!
Daniel Kwong, a second year FIS athlete, continued to show his strengths as an alpine ski racer, coming away with more top tens finishes! Daniel finished 9th overall (second J1) in Monday’s DH race, 5th J1 on Tuesday and 3rd J1 (11th overall) in Wednesday SG race. Ryan Hotte finished 11th overall in Monday’s DH.
As the sun (yes…sun!) rose on Tuesday morning it was going to be the perfect day to run 3 downhill race…1 for the men and 2 for the women, to make up for Monday’s postponement. And the women proved they were up to the challenge!
Kailee Darlington, a first year FIS athlete, went on the attack, finishing 7th overall (2nd J1) in the Tuesday morning’s DH, 8th overall (3rd J1) in the afternoon DH and 10th overall (3rd J1) in Wednesday’s SG.
Kailee reflects on her week…
“Downhill is the only time in ski racing when you can go as fast as you want, straight down the mountain, with no one in your way. Apex speed 2010 was definitely the scariest, most thrilling, best ski race of my career. It was also the most frustrating due to unfavourable weather, but nonetheless I went from speed checking in training before going straight down the hill, to getting clocked at the fastest girl (86.6km/h). Ryan Jazic and Nick Cooper could not have been more supportive with the advice they gave and the confidence they showed they had for every single racer that left the start gate. As a result of this I landed the J1 podium on three separate occasions earning two bronze medals and a silver. My first podium result as a FIS racer was a very memorable experience and I plan to take the aggression and speed it took, to future races. This downhill experience has taught me that you will never be successful until you put your fears behind you, charge with no regrets, and keep fun a priority.
I would like to thank the coaches and Cookie for the amazing support and effort they contributed to our team in Apex, we all know it wouldn't have been possible without their knowledge and expertise. “
Elyse Timoshenko, in her second year as a FIS racer, demonstrated her strength in the speed events, finishing 6th overall (2nd J1) in Tuesday afternoons DH race and 8th overall (2nd J1) in Wednesday’s Super G. Sofi Leroux, another first year athlete, was 10th in the J1 group in Tuesday afternoon’s DH.
Congratulations to WMSC and BC Team members, Jocelyn Ramsden and Alecia Willis, who placed 1st and 2nd respectively in the Super G race on Wednesday! Morgan Pridy, Conrad Pridy, Ben MacLean and Michael Cadman, who are also BC Team and WMSC members, all returned home with several top ten finishes in the week’s events.
The Super G race on Thursday was not to be, as heavy fog blanketed the mountain and forced the cancellation of the day’s events.
Despite the frustration of the delays and the disappointment with the cancellations, all racers returned home in great spirits and proud of their accomplishments! The consensus among the first year athletes after their introduction to Downhill…it was the most fun they’ve ever had on skis!
Next stop…Ski Norquay, for the Coupe GMC Cup Technical Event!
Congratulations to all the WMSC FIS athletes and Good Luck in Norquay!
The athletes spent most of the early part of Monday morning slipping to course as they had received 12 cm of new snow overnight. The course was declared race ready, forerunners and the women were ready to go. However, after only 7 athletes, the heavy fog rolled in once again. Much to everyone’s disappointment, the race was cancelled due to the poor visibility. Volunteers and race crew would reconvene in the afternoon in ho
Mother Nature provided the athletes and race crew with what proved to be only a short window of opportunity and after only 46 of 78 men had run, the race was called. More fog! As the week went on poor visibility would be a real challenge!
Daniel Kwong, a second year FIS athlete, continued to show his strengths as an alpine ski racer, coming away with more top tens finishes! Daniel finished 9th overall (second J1) in Monday’s DH race, 5th J1 on Tuesday and 3rd J1 (11th overall) in Wednesday SG race. Ryan Hotte finished 11th overall in Monday’s DH.
As the sun (yes…sun!) rose on Tuesday morning it was going to be the perfect day to run 3 downhill race…1 for the men and 2 for the women, to make up for Monday’s postponement. And the women proved they were up to the challenge!
Kailee Darlington, a first year FIS athlete, went on the attack, finishing 7th overall (2nd J1) in the Tuesday morning’s DH, 8th overall (3rd J1) in the afternoon DH and 10th overall (3rd J1) in Wednesday’s SG.
Kailee reflects on her week…
“Downhill is the only time in ski racing when you can go as fast as you want, straight down the mountain, with no one in your way. Apex speed 2010 was definitely the scariest, most thrilling, best ski race of my career. It was also the most frustrating due to unfavourable weather, but nonetheless I went from speed checking in training before going straight down the hill, to getting clocked at the fastest girl (86.6km/h). Ryan Jazic and Nick Cooper could not have been more supportive with the advice they gave and the confidence they showed they had for every single racer that left the start gate. As a result of this I landed the J1 podium on three separate occasions earning two bronze medals and a silver. My first podium result as a FIS racer was a very memorable experience and I plan to take the aggression and speed it took, to future races. This downhill experience has taught me that you will never be successful until you put your fears behind you, charge with no regrets, and keep fun a priority.
I would like to thank the coaches and Cookie for the amazing support and effort they contributed to our team in Apex, we all know it wouldn't have been possible without their knowledge and expertise. “
Elyse Timoshenko, in her second year as a FIS racer, demonstrated her strength in the speed events, finishing 6th overall (2nd J1) in Tuesday afternoons DH race and 8th overall (2nd J1) in Wednesday’s Super G. Sofi Leroux, another first year athlete, was 10th in the J1 group in Tuesday afternoon’s DH.
Congratulations to WMSC and BC Team members, Jocelyn Ramsden and Alecia Willis, who placed 1st and 2nd respectively in the Super G race on Wednesday! Morgan Pridy, Conrad Pridy, Ben MacLean and Michael Cadman, who are also BC Team and WMSC members, all returned home with several top ten finishes in the week’s events.
The Super G race on Thursday was not to be, as heavy fog blanketed the mountain and forced the cancellation of the day’s events.
Despite the frustration of the delays and the disappointment with the cancellations, all racers returned home in great spirits and proud of their accomplishments! The consensus among the first year athletes after their introduction to Downhill…it was the most fun they’ve ever had on skis!
Next stop…Ski Norquay, for the Coupe GMC Cup Technical Event!
Congratulations to all the WMSC FIS athletes and Good Luck in Norquay!
Posted by: nloring
on 1/31/2010
