By Mary Clayton, Revelstoke Ski Club
It was a Super-G weekend for the Revelstoke Ski Club. The FIS team raced Super-G in Nakiska, and the U-16s raced the same event in Whistler. Super-G requires skills in both slalom and downhill, making it perhaps one of the most intense alpine events. Significant speed is required, and the racers are skiing much of the course in a tuck, or downhill position, even while making technically accurate turns around the gates.
Revelstoke sent three athletes to Nakiska, all of whom posted results in the top 15. “I’m very pleased with the effort the kids showed on this race,” said coach Milan Arsovski. “The motivation was high after our last successful training session on our home mountain, so they were keen and ready to race.”
Dominic Unterberger, who’s been racing on the BC team this winter, joined the Revelstoke Club for the Nakiska Super G and came in fifth in two events and sixth on the other. “These were my first Super-G races of the year and I made some great turns on the longer skis,” said Dominic. “I’m quite happy with my results but would have loved to hit the podium.”
Dominic’s sister Emily was 12th in one race and 14th in two others, while Jamie Park was 13th and 15th. “Although the first race didn’t go so well for me, my coach and I worked on my mistakes and I put the day behind me, which helped me ski much better the next day,” said Emily. “I ended up with two pretty good results, my best so far this season.”
Ski racing is an exacting sport, with podium finishers separated by a blink of an eye, and the top 10 competitors within a very few seconds of each other. In this game, the smallest of mistakes make all the difference.
“Emily and Jamie were both very close to the leading girls,” said Milan. “With some more tactical work we will be on the winning track. I am looking forward that the team can carry this momentum and building on it throughout the remainder of the season.”
In Whistler, four Revelstoke athletes competed in the Teck Provincial U-16 Speed Championships. Revelstoke scored some top-10 results in this Super-G event, with some tough competition from around the province. Mitch Smith was fifth in one race and eighth in the other, while Max Scharf came in sixth in both races. Callum Hicks was 14th and 17th, and Sonia Schwenck was 22nd and 27th.