The Smithers Alpine Ski Team hosted the final race of the season this weekend with over 40 racers competing in the 2012 Teck Cominco North Zone Finals.
On Saturday with low visibility and slushy snow conditions, the racers took their marks and although they were cautions through the Giant Slalom course, Smithers still managed to pull off some decent times.
On day one teams from Williams Lake, Quesnel, Prince George, Smithers, Terrace and Whitehorse descended on Hudson Bay Mountains Cinderella run. James Goudreau finished first overall in his division followed by club teammate Jason Oliemans, putting up times of 54.03 and 54.13 respectively.
Aidan Press landed himself a third place finish followed by Liam Huxtable, Harrison Mcalonan and Caleb Smale in the E2 GS category.
Mikayla and Tiana Gairns from Prince George as well as Evian Mullen toped off the podium in the women’s division for day one results.
Although there have been some respectable wins for the Smithers down-hillers, chief of course Gary Huxtable said that this was a rebuilding year for the team however, the competition in the North has been much more challenging.
“They’ve [Smithers Ski Club] been doing really well,” said Huxtable. “It’s kind of a rebuilding year for us, we’ve had trouble with retention in the alpine group which is eleven and up and this year we’ve really gotten our numbers back. We’re up to 22 members in that group and we expect to be at about 28 for next year. So our numbers are increasing in that age category and with that our ski skills are increasing.”
On day two Oliemans brought home the gold for Smithers, after teams from PG and Whitehorse cleaned up in both the women’s men’s K/J divisions.
“I thought I had a pretty good race,” Oliemans said. “The conditions are a bit different than normal, it’s a little slushier so that made it interesting but I think overall I did pretty good.”
Press, Mcalonan and Huxtable rounded out the final in the E2 division followed by Hannah Buchanan picking up second in the E2 women’s category.
The SSC would like to thank all their sponsors, Teck, RBC, Skeena Catskiing and Hudson Bay Mountain for their continued dedication to the club.