It was Brenden Reid and Marie Andree Racinee’s turn to reign on Saturday night (Jan. 5), taking home the top titles from the second King of the Rail event of the season.
Reid was chosen as king and Racinee the queen in the contest held at the base of Whistler, while several others took home cash prizes for winning their categories.
Max Melvin-McNutt pocketed $100 for taking top spot in the male snowboard 17-plus division. Other snowboard winners were Quinn Dubois in the male 16-and-under group and Jessy Poirier in the female 17-plus.
Max Morello won the male 17-plus ski category, while Amanda Webster won the same women’s class. Wyatt Metcalfe captured the male 16-and-under win.
The next King of the Rail event is set for Feb. 9.
The hits kept coming on Sunday (Jan. 6) for a Park Rider Sessions slopestyle with about 50 skiers and snowboarders each getting two runs in the Nintendo Terrain Park on Whistler.
Teen skier J.C. Heckman was selected by judges as the day’s top performer, but it was men’s snowboard winner Dan Ato who had the event’s top score overall, earning an average of 86.0 on his second run to hold off runner-up Keaton Gibson.
Yuka Kasukawa won the women’s snowboard division.
Thomas Roberts and Amanda Webster won the men’s and women’s ski categories, respectively, while Alaina Mackenzie topped the 14 to 16 girls’ group. Aidan McConnell edged Niko Blomberg for the boys’ 14 to 16 win.
Finn Finestone set the winning score for the boys’ 13-and-under snowboard class on his second run, beating out Quinn Dubois in a busy category. Samantha Deally won the girls’ division.
Luke Smart won the boys’ 13-and-under ski group with an average score of 81.25, and Mei Pond was first among girls.
Whistler Blackcomb has a 13-and-under snow cross event planned for the course on Blackcomb on Jan. 19 and 20 for its next competition.
KVRS continues
The second event of the Kokanee Valley Race Series saw a repeat of the season opener by returning to Ross’s Gold on Blackcomb for a giant slalom last Thursday (Jan. 3).
It was the youngsters who set the quickest two-run times, as men’s 19 to 29 winner Kato Takamine and runner-up Dillon Sheppard were the day’s two fastest racers. Philip Beauregard won a competitive men’s 50 to 59 age group over John Muzillo.
Other men’s division winners last Thursday were Daniel Moore (30 to 39), Michael Noc (40 to 49), Paul Psutka (60 to 69) and David Trussler (70 to 79).
Janine Linder-Joris was the fastest women’s competitor and captured first in the 50 to 59 age group. Also winning women’s races last week were Grace Oaks (70-plus), Shirley Hui (40 to 49) and Julie Lanouette (19 to 29).
The series is back on Thursday (Jan. 10) with a GS going from Gandy to Cruiser Corner on Blackcomb.
Toonie Races getting started
The Whistler Nordics’ schedule of Toonie Races is set to open on Thursday (Jan. 10) and continue for the next 10 weeks.
The races are open to cross-country skiers of all ages and ability levels, and conclude with a social gathering each week. Registration takes place at the Lost Lake Passiv Haus starting at 5:30 p.m., with races starting at 6:15 p.m.
The club is making a series out of the races this year, with skiers able to accumulate points for their results throughout the winter. Series winners will be honoured at the end of the season.
Participants must be Whistler Nordics club members to race, but non-members can pay a one-off $5 fee to race. A valid trail pass and head lamp are required.
Different courses are available to suit varying skinny-ski skill levels. Visit www.whistlernordics.com for a full race schedule and other club information.
