Morning Star Staff
The Vernon Ski Club hosted 120 sthletes at the recent sixth annual Kal Tire Round Up at Silver Star Mountain Resort.
The Kal Tire Round Up is a fun-filled event with a western theme which wraps the club’s 10-week entry level race programs for kids aged five to 12.
Athletes competed in the “Under the Hill Downhill” and “High Noon Duel Slalom,” followed by a barbecue lunch and awards ceremonies in the village.
More than 60 draw prizes were given out, including two pairs of skis, donated by Blizzard/Tecnica, Nordica, Olympia Cycle & Ski, Attridge Snow Ski Wake and Sun Valley Source for Sports.
In the girls slalom, top Vernon Ski Club athletes in their respective age categories were Ellie Tupper, Lauren Clancy, Natalie Fux, Camryn Steele, Aida Mills, Cassidy Cruikshank and Clara Cox.
In the boys slalom, gold medals went to Cole Ogasawara, Benjamin Straight, Rowan Smith, Maxim Ball, Sean Robinson, Lucas Ball and Nash Steele.
In the girls downhill, it was Ella Rolleston, Grace Sebulsky, Charlotte Wargniez, Brinnley Magee, Aida Mills, Cassidy Cruikshank and Clara Cox who were the top VSC athletes.
In the boys downhill, Cole Ogasawara, Bodhi Cull, Braxton McDonald, Jake Blankley, Deklen McDonald, Asher Kuiken and Nash Steele struck gold in their age groups.
Meanwhile, a competitive field, including a handful of racers from the Vernon Ski Club, were at Revelstoke Mountain Resort for the four-day Fidelity U14 Can-Am Championships which ended Sunday.
The top 40 athletes from the U14 B.C. finals held recently at Silver Star, were invited to the Fidelity U14 races.
Clubs from the U.S., Alberta and B.C. all were challenged by warm wet conditions for the first three days of competition, finishing off on a sunny Sunday.
After two days of GS and two days of slalom racing, Caele Kassa of Vernon finished fourth, which included a second in a GS race. Clubmate Gerrit Van Soest was eighth.
“The Vernon U14 team had a very successful week,” said Vernon Ski Club head coach Andrew Lambert.
“Several other athletes had personal bests or placed in the top-15. “Mostly, I am psyched with my team’s commitment to improve and support one another.”
Also representing the Vernon Ski Club were Katrina Fink, Nadia Jones, Makena Kersey, Braeden Kersey, Emma Lockwood and Raine Smith.
“We look forward to finishing up the season at the zone championships at Big White (Ski Resort in Kelowna), followed by Whistler Cup in early April,” said Lambert.
