Clear skies, mild temperatures, and fast snow were on call Dec. 17 for the first Teck Coast Cup of the season at Whistler Olympic Park (WOP).
Hosted by the Hollyburn Cross Country Ski Club, the free technique mass start races attracted 164 participants aged four to 63 from the Sea to Sky Corridor, Metro Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island. These included several athletes from Coast Corrider United (CCU), a collaborative training effort between Whistler Nordics, Spud Valley Nordics and Sea to Sky Nordics.
Chief of Competition Jake Weaker noted in a press release: “This is the first race of the season, and we’ve had a good turnout from local clubs. Everyone is trying their hardest, and there are lots of smiles on everybody’s faces."
Tobi Henderson prevailed among the women's masters, while at the other end of the spectrum, Meja Koshul placed first among U8 girls. Luke McGowan also took home gold in the U12 boys event.
Other podium finishers include Lily McGowan (silver, U16 girls), Holden Wilson (bronze, U16 boys), Teja Stevens (bronze, U12 boys), Ella Koshul (silver, U12 girls) and Dahlia Fortier (bronze, U12 girls).
Honourable mentions go out to fourth-place contestants Claire Benson (U16 girls) and Max Murray (U14 boys), as well as U14 girl Veya Stevens who raced despite recovering from a knee injury.
In late November, all three CCU clubs sent athletes to provincial talent squad training camps at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre. These talent squads are by invitation only, based on results at provincial, national, and/or international competitions. Sea to Sky Nordics biathletes Benson, Wilson and Taje Hansen took part, along with cross-country skiers Lily McGowan and Stevens from Whistler Nordics and Spud Valley Nordics respectively.
“The kids worked extremely hard at dry-land training this fall and it was quite exciting for them to get on the snow and train with all of the top racers from across the province in their respective disciplines,” said Whistler Nordics president Dan Wilson in a release.
Full results are available WOP will host the next Coast Cup on Dec. 30.
