The view from the top of Panorama’s SG
First up was Dreadnought’s Downhill, Super-G, and slalom. Hardworking crews of volunteers had been prepping the track since a month before the event, to ensure it was in as good shape as possible. This allowed teams to get in 2 days of official, timed downhill training before launching into the race days.
Like last year, the downhill course was fast and open and featured the same jump; but unlike last year, VST nailed it with noticeably less apprehension. After that, there was a big change of tempo as athletes tackled the night slalom, guided down the main run only by the glow of lights. However, when it came to the Super-G, the worsening El Niño conditions proved to be a real barrier. Soft snow and a crumbly surface led to the cancellation of both races; the high-speed nature of the discipline would not have made it safe to run. Nonetheless, the mountain quickly adapted to provide the athletes with a slalom race down Dreadnought on the last day. VST even took home their first hardware of the season in this event; shout out to Thomas Hung, who won a U19 bronze!
On to Panorama...
To make up for Kimberley’s re-arranged events, the schedule at Panorama was also modified. Jumping from mountain to mountain, VST showed up the day after the Kimberley to join over 170 athletes from across Western Canada and the US in racing a slalom down Hayfever. While some enjoyed the pitch admittedly less than others, the chance to train it during the Christmas series had helped everyone feel more mentally prepared.
Fortunately, as energy waned, the final three days of racing took everyone back to the gently rolling slopes of Old Timer. Panorama’s slightly colder temperatures and firmer surface allowed for the 2 missed Super-G races from Kimberley to run, though men only got one due to timing- incurred delays.
Racing through some West Coast-style fog and wet buffs!
As snowier weather systems moved in, the series wrapped up with 2 GS races. Racing through the fog and mixed precipitation, athletes persevered through tired legs to get in one last push. As difficult as it became physically and mentally during this final stretch, VST made sure to keep showing up for one another. Whether it was being there to lap jackets, hyping up teammates in the start, or banding together to finish homework in the lodge, the team bonded through the long days, developing their mental and physical fortitude in the process. VST sent off the back-to-back events with a pizza night before heading for the coast.
After 9 starts and 14 straight days of skiing, VST is back in Vancouver for a well-deserved rest. Congratulations to all the athletes and a massive thank you to Titouan and Nino for their support, guidance and commitment, without which the productivity and successes of the series would not have been possible!
