January 27, 2014 (Kamloops BC) - With over 330 athletes racing in the mild temperatures high above the Valley cloud that covered Kamloops over 20 teams were in attendance from throughout the province for the January 25, 26 Teck BC Cup weekend. The two day event featured an Individual Start Skate race and a Mass Start Classic Race with categories and distances for all ages and abilities.
Stunning blue skies and spectator friendly temperatures at Stake Lake trails drew hundreds of local friends and family to take in the action. The race stadium was a flourish of color and a hub of activity as athletes and recreational skiers converged at the Stake Lake ski trails, home to Overlander Ski Club and over 650 members. The race weekend put skier visits to more than 8000 for the season. Race trails were in excellent shape thanks to the dedicated team of volunteer groomers that work their magic throughout the night.
BC Ski Team (BCST) and Development Squad (BCDS) members traveled from ski clubs as far away Bulkley Valley in the north with BCST member Gabriel Price, nephew of local endurance athlete Peter Findlay showing his strength, determination and good genes by landing on the podium with a win in Saturdays 10km individual start free technique race and a 2nd in Sundays Mass start 10 km Classic. Alexander Corbett of Larch Hills placed 3nd on Saturday and 4th on Sunday. Gareth Williams of Telemark Kelowna showed his hard work and dedication to training by attacking the technical course and standing on the podium in the Junior Boys category with a 2nd place in the skate race and a 1st in the Classic. Teammate David Walker of Telemark joined him with a 3rd place finish on the classic day. Caledonia Nordics athlete, Kathleen Woods came from Prince George and went home with a 1st and 2 place. Development squad athlete Andrew Nash took a 1st and 3rd home to Salmon Arm, Lauren Doak of Whistler came second in the Free technique race in Junior Girls category with Avalon Waseneys of Strathcona Nordics, Campbell River placing 3rd. Local development squad athlete, Elizabeth McKenzie-Case came 4th in the free technique race on Saturday. Alexandra Myshak Davis of Telemark took a 1st and 3rd place win home in the junior women.
The Teck BC Cup cross country events gave 24 young athletes of the Overlander Junior Ski Team an opportunity to race on familiar terrain. Wade Kanigan, Joe Kitamura, Elias Harvey finished in a 1,2,3 Club sweep on Sunday. Quilla Decker 2nd place, Aedan Skinner 4th Lian Gayfer- 9th in PeeWee boys 1. Congratulations to Kaden Kwiatkowski 2nd place in Pee Wee 2 with team mates Ben Kitamura 4th, Jonas Decker 10, Mangus Engleson 11th and Liam Grover 12th. We will certainly have to watch these youngsters as they continue to ski together. Natalie Bennett -8th. Drew Kanigan- 5, Johnathan Helly- 8. Hanneli Ladyman 3rd. Jeremy Helly 10th, Joshua Skinner 11th. Garett Tremblay 14&15, HeatherVermey 16th & 18th, Alyssa Manhard 17th both days, Sarah Manhard 19th & 25th Alex McDonald 10th both days, Nicole Vermey 5th &7th. Complete results can be found at www.zone4.ca or www.crosscountrybc.ca look for TeckBCCUP#2.
The Teck BC Cup #2 was the second competition in the premier race series of Cross Country BC. There are still plenty of cross country races yet to come this season including BC Championships, the final race in the Teck BC Cup series held at the Telemark Club, Kelowna Feb 28 –March 2, 2014.
Cross Country BC is our provincial sport governing body for more than 16,000 cross country skiing members that belong to non- profit clubs throughout BC. CCBC offers programs, services and support for the continuous development of Nordic skiing for all ages and abilities, from novice through to international competitors. Teck Resources Ltd is the title sponsor of the Cross Country BC’s Skier Development Program; thereby supporting and encouraging excellence in sport and providing youth with experiences that will help prepare them for successful futures. For more information about Cross Country BC please visit www.crosscountry.ca