A young skier competing in her first ever giant slalom ski race, has won a medal for her hard work.
Cherish Peters of Abbotsford won a medal for most improved female skier at a recent event at Hemlock Valley Resort, placing 25th out of 41 young elite female skiers. The competitors hailed from across southwestern B.C., including a huge contingent from the Whistler Mountain Ski Club.
Peters, who has been a member of the Hemlock Ski Club for the past two years, ran two clean GS races on Saturday when there finally was a reprieve in the weather, after Hemlock had been pounded by 135 mm of rain in the previous 48 hours.
“The Hemlock course workers were in full force this past weekend, battling the elements to make sure that the scheduled races would proceed” said Peter Liljedahl, president of the Hemlock Ski Club.
Between fresh snow, severe rain storms and heavy winds that damaged significant portions of the safety netting and impacted chairlift operations, the volunteer course worker’s skills and their dedication to the sport were tested to the maximum.
Each January, up to 100 junior race skiers in the K1 category, aged 11 and 12, along with their coaches and chaperones, converge on Hemlock to participate in a sanctioned BC Alpine GS race weekend to improve their standings in the provincial rankings.
“We are frequently told by other B.C. ski clubs that Hemlock has the best K1 GS course in the entire province” said Liljedahl. “Although our ski club is small when compared to those from Metro Vancouver and Whistler, we love putting on a great race weekend for all the athletes.”
Liljedahl also recognized the gracious sponsorship of Teck to the junior alpine ski racing program in B.C., as well as the support of Hemlock Resort, so that the Hemlock K1 race can proceed every year.
Laura Swaffield of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club won the Ladies GS first race, Keeley Tafel of the Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club won the Ladies GS second race and Edward Lee of the Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club won the Mens GS first race. Three members of the Hemlock K1 ski team participated in the GS races this past weekend and Kelsey Voss of Port Moody had the best finish for the team when she placed 23rd out of 41 skiers in the second girls K1 GS race. Accompanying Kelsey and Cherish on the K1 ski team was Jason Forster of Coquitlam, who was able to experience his first GS race ever.
For more information about the Hemlock Ski Club and ski racing program, visit the www.hemlockskiclub.com.