Over two dozen downhill snow sports lovers took part in this year’s Lord Of The Boards race on Hudson Bay Mountain last Saturday. The race, a fundraiser for the volunteer ski patrol, features individuals and teams competing the same course on downhill skis, telemark skis and snowboards.
Several ambitious athletes attempted to do all three, according to co-organizer Mika Meyer, who also competed in all three disciplines.
“I’ve only telemarked once before yesterday, and that was at last year’s Lord Of The Boards,” she said. “It’s not every day you’re able to do all three sports in a single afternoon.”
The race was started in 2006 by the Bulkley Freeriders, but the volunteer ski patrol has been running it the last couple years, with help from the Smithers Ski Club, “Table 100” and former organizers. Meyer is hoping this year’s increase in participants is a sign that the race will grow in the future.
“We really want to push that it’s a fun event,” she said.
Prizes were donated by a number of businesses, and Winterland had free demo equipment all day for participants and the general public, so racers didn’t have to supply their own gear for all three sports.
At the end of the day, Ryan Madley finished as the top individual male, while co-organizer Becky Misener was the top individual female. The top team was made up of John Yuen, Neil Bailey and Marie-Eve Gautier.