B.C. had great success at the junior national snowboard championships in Le Relais, Que. last week. Vancouver Islanders competing included Sofia Tchernetski of Mount Washington, Mei Pond of Victoria, Todd Heard of Duncan and Layne Anvelt of Nanaimo. Teal Harle chose not to compete as he took on the professionals in Ontario at the Snow Crown.
The week started with the slope event and B.C. came out charging with the girls throwing huge tricks down the course. Pond showed off some new switch skills, and with a big switch 180, followed by a smooth 720, she landed her way to a silver in F4. Tchernetski showed off some great front flips and attacked the rails on the course with speed and style and finished fourth.
The boys were anxious to charge the jumps and showed superior rail skills and smooth stylish airs. Heard finished 10th in the tough M3 category.
“On Big Air day the weather was not in our favour, with intense headwinds athletes battled to get the speed dialed in,” said BC Park & Pipe Development Team coach Evan Wilcox. Despite the tough conditions the girls showed off difficult tricks. Pond showed she is not afraid to go big, stomping a 7 and placing third. Tchernetski was looking for speed and unfortunately got caught up by the headwind (50 km/h) and was unable to get the tricks she wanted and still ended up in fifth place.
In M3 Anvelt placed 17th and Heard 22nd.
“B.C. had a great showing in slopestyle and Big Air, getting a podium result in almost every category. I could not be more impressed with the level these athletes have achieved,” Wilcox said.
In the mogul event, Pond spun her way to a fourth place in F4. In M4, Heard showed he is a force in all the events by placing 18th while Anvelt was 25th.
“I want to thank all the parents, athletes and coaches for a great event. It takes a solid team of people to make these events happen and I feel that B.C. was really well represented,” Wilcox said.
“An honourable mention goes to the athletes that competed in every event: Sofiane Gangnon, Luke Smart, Brayden Kuroda, Mei Pond, Todd Heard and Charles Armstrong.”
