Skiers and snowboarders from across Northern B.C. were invited to Troll Ski Resort and Lodge to attended the High School Zone Races, Feb. 9 – 10.
With 165 registered skiers and snowboarders, the event was sure to be a resounding success.
Twenty-nine athlete from Quesnel junior school (QJS) and Correlieu secondary school attended the event, with many racers walking away with medals and the opportunity to attend the upcoming provincials.
“It’s looking very promising,” coach Scott Zacharias said.
“All the athletes that qualified did extremely well at zones and we have high hopes for Revelstoke.”
In order to compete in the team events each team must have a minimum of four racers.
Though QJS was unable to bring in the number for a girls ski team, several skiers attended and qualified for provincials as individual racers.
This included Hannah Doucette and Grace Klapatiuk. Taking to the slopes and placing as the third fastest female skier overall was QJS skier Klapatiuk.
Also qualifying for provincials in snowboarding, was QJS student Kesley Carter.
Many athletes from CSS took to the slopes as well, facing off against the out-of-town competition for a chance at provincials.
Snowboarders Morgan Blaire and Eva Vanvugt will be attending provincials, competing in the individual races.
For the boys, CSS snowboarding teams flew by their competition.
Their tireless efforts on the slops earned these high school athletes a third place win overall, rocketing them into the provincials.
The team’s top six snowboarder’s skills earned them attendance at the upcoming races, they are Jared Lucas, Kyle Mannering, Ryan Wilson, Mateo Rojas, Royce Maxwell and Jordan Hammond.
Hammond won’t be attending so snowboarder Peter Palfery will go in his place.
Taking third place at zones was CSS girls ski team. Team members Grace Johnston, Hailey Doucette, Perri-Lynn LeNeve, Keana Lefebvre and Sophia Stoldt will be whizzing down snow covering hills once more having qualified for provincials.
As well as preforming excellently with her team, skier Hailey Doucette’s efforts earned her the label of fastest female skier overall at the event.
CSS boys ski team left their competition struggling to keep up as they tackled zones, taking first place overall.
The team will be joining their fellow Quesnel athletes on the trek to provincials at the beginning of March. The team will consist of CSS athletes Chris McGauley, Wyatt Herman, Brody Lawlor, Matt Paul, Duncan Johnston, James Johnston and Michael Kolody.
As well as taking first place several of the team’s skiers enjoyed individuals achievements, earning the top three fastest times overall.
First fastest time went to McGauley, second fastest went to Herman and following as the third fastest skier was Lawlor.
Next up will be Provincials, March 2 – 4 in Revelstoke.
