麻豆社区

It was a busy final weekend on the slopes at Mount Sima this weekend, as the ski hill was the stage for both the Yukon Championships and Simapalooza festivities.

Sunday marked the last day of skiing and snowboarding at the local hill, and now talk will turn to the facility's finances and whether or not the hill will remain viable into next year (see related story on page 3).

Board Stiff presented the Yukon Championships, which featured the snowboard and freestyle ski championships with both competitive and recreational divisions.

Meanwhile, Simapalooza featured a jam-packed event schedule including fun family events and activities. An obstacle course on the bunny hill, as well as a variety of fun races were highlights.

"I think it's a great way to end the season,鈥� said Mary Binsted, chief of competition. "For some of the athletes, it'll be the peak of their seasons. For those who have been training all winter, the Yukon Championships is the highlight of their year.鈥�

The event also served as a chance for freestyle athletes competing in B.C. to display their skills in front of their hometown fans.

Binsted said the field of competition was larger than usual, with exactly 100 participants hitting the slopes for the championship.

"That's amazing. I think that's a direct result of the fact that our on-hill training programs are growing,鈥� she said.

"With the snow-cross, it really attracts a wide field of skiers and snowboarders from across the Yukon. It's not just those training in programs.鈥�

Binsted said the participation level was a spike of about 25 per cent over previous years.

"People are looking for the snow-cross in particular,鈥� she said. "They're coming back year after year for that. Slopestyle's a little more specialized.鈥�

In one instance, Jarrid Davy and his son Ethan, both won their respective snow-cross races and took the top step of the podium.

"That was pretty cool,鈥� Binsted admitted.

Slopestyle and snow-cross competition winners were as follows:

Slopestyle ski 鈥� Josh Harlow (Male 16-plus/Open); Sara Burke-Forsyth (Female Open); Kyran Allen (Male 13-15); and Jacob Finton (Male U-12).

Slopestyle snowboard 鈥� Adam Waddington (Male 16-plus/Open); Marie-Helene Blanchet (Female Open); Pelly Vincent-Braun (Male 13-15); and Ethan Davy (Male U-12).

Snow-cross ski 鈥� Jarrid Davy (Masters, competitive); Josie Storey (Female Open, competitive); Philippe Mouchet (Male 16-plus, competitive); Manuel Kennedy Kuiper (Male 16-plus, recreational); Kyran Allen (Male 13-15, competitive); Shane Orban (Male U-12, competitive); and Charlie Hawes (Male U-12, recreational).

Snow-cross snowboard 鈥� Aaron Frotten (Masters, recreational); Matthew Johnson (Masters, competitive); Reanna 麻豆社区ome (Female Open, competitive); Gabriel Rivest (Male 16-plus/Open, competitive); Isaiah English (Male 13-15, competitive); and Ethan Davy (Male U-12, competitive).

Binsted said conditions were "perfect鈥� for the events.

The Yukon Championships cap a great year for the freestyle team, which saw many team members pick up medals during competition in B.C. last month.

After Josh Harlow picked up a best-ever third place finish at the Canadian Shield event in Vancouver, the freestyle team excelled even further at the B.C. Freestyle Championships at Silverstar, near Vernon.

In slopestyle competition, first-time competitor Lyndsey Boorse won gold in the F3 division, while Aidan Allen won silver in the M3 division.

"Our top athletes are posting in the top 20 and even the top 10 nationally,鈥� Binsted said. "Our programs are building solid developmental-level athletes. And the Yukon Championships is just a great time for them to display their skills.鈥�