On February 8, the High School East Kootenay Zones Ski & Snowboard competition was held at Fernie Alpine Resort, and both Fernie Secondary School and the Fernie Academy scored big.
This tournament was put on with the help of the Fernie Alpine Ski Team and Fernie Alpine Resort, and attracted 150 racers from high schools in the East Kootenay zone. Approximately 40 adult and student volunteers undertook various jobs to make this competition possible.
Fernie Secondary School (FSS) placed first overall combined for teams, Girls and Boys Ski and Snowboard, and The Fernie Academy (TFA) placed first in the Ski Girls & Ski Boys categories.
Because of their successes, many athletes from FSS and TFA will be heading to provincials in Kamloops from March 4 to 7.
In Ski-Girls, TFA’s Charlize Street put down a combined two-run time of 66.82 seconds, securing the first place win just one second ahead of FSS’s Eva Perwitzchky, who finished with a time of 67.61 seconds.
Overall, the FSS Girls Ski team was tied in points with TFA. It was this spectacular run by Street that took the Ski Girls win for TFA.
In Ski-Boys, TFA’s Kaleb Barnum finished in a combined two-run time of 70.61, beating Golden’s Sawyer Millward who finished with a time of 74.95. In third place came TFA’s Tomaz Ciglar with a time of 75.76.
In Girls Snowboard, FSS’s Marin Farmer finished the competition with a combined two-run total of 98.49 seconds. Behind her in third place came TFA’s Ava Hozjan who finished with a time of 101.85.
In Boys Snowboard, FSS’s Ethan Rolufs finished in second place with a combined two-run total of 97.1 seconds.
Highschools in the Kootenay’s have been racing since the early 80s. At FSS, Dean and Roxane Esch, as well as Janet Kuijt have been coaching the FSS team for the past few years.
Coaches extended their heartfelt thanks to all of the individuals who selflessly donated their time to help make this event in Fernie possible.
In anticipation of the upcoming provincials at Sun Peaks, students will be raising funds for their trip. Don’t be suprised if you find a few knocking at your door!
A fundraiser for the Alpine Ski and Snowboard Team is currently underway, featuring a raffle in which locals have a chance to win prizes. The cost is three tickets for $5. Grand prize is an Apple Ipad, second prize is a Fernie Ghostriders Adult Powerpass and third prize is a Dine Around Fernie card. The raffle draw date is March 2.
In addition, Fernie Secondary students will be selling baked goods at the Fly Fishing Film Fest, this weekend.
Keep a look out for them.