The excitement of night ski racing returns to Kimberley Alpine Resort this Saturday, February 4 and then ski racing continues on all through next week and beyond with the FIS Canadian Western Championship Downhills and Super Gs on February 6 through 9. Following closely on the heels of that race action is the Zone Race for U12 and U14 Athletes, hosted by the Kimberley Alpine Team, in conjunction with the Nancy Green Festival for younger athletes. Saturday, February 11 and Sunday, February 12, the U12 and U14 athletes will compete in Giant Slalom, Slalom and later that evening the crowd pleasing favorite dual night slalom. Over the two days the Nancy Green budding athletes will have fun experiencing ski jumps, obstacle course, ski cross course, speed traps, and introduction to downhill racing.
That will be followed by the Para Alpine National Championships Canada & USA/Master Speed Series Kimberley Invitational on February 12 though 17.
Once again, all this high quality racing is being brought to Kimberley by two very dedicated volunteers, Donna Briggs and Lloyd Steeves, and sponsored by Kimberley Alpine Resort and ViaSport BC. Briggs and Steeves are both Kimberley residents, with long histories in ski racing. Steeves has been involved for over 30 years, including being Assistant Chief of Course at the Men’s World Cup in Lake Louise for ten plus years and a section chief at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
In addition, he received BC Alpine’s volunteer award of the year for 2010/11 and ViaSport BC’s Alpine volunteer of the year for 2012/13.
Donna Briggs received volunteer of the year through BC Alpine for her involvement with the FIS Keurig Speed Camp, Super G, Downhill and Night Slalom a couple of years ago. In 2014 the night slalom event was chosen ‘Event of the Year’ by BC Alpine.
“When ski racers, coaches and their families come stay in our area, either for the first time or after many years away, they are stunned by the transformation of the resort and the caliber of on-mountain ski to your door accommodations, new amenities, dining experiences and activities available in our quaint mountain city five minutes from the resort,” Steeves said.
“The annual impact to our community is in the range $400,000 new dollars being spent on accommodations, restaurants, retail, services, transportation, and entertainment. The economic impact extends well beyond the winter season with many visitors making plans to visit again during another season to experience other available sports and activities to those visitors who become so enamored with the quality of life, sense of community, and affordability that they are inspired to set up permanent residence.”
Locals are invited to check out ski racing .Highlights include the award winning “Light ‘em up on Main” FIS night slalom Saturday February 4 starting at 4 p.m., and any of the racing to follow.
“Having these races, volunteers and race facilities has undoubtedly inspired and contributed to some of our regional ski racer success stories in the likes of local athletes likes Sherret, Chore and Hoffos who are all part of the Canadian Development Skier Cross team and Jamie Casselman, whose racing accomplishments continue to grow,” Steeves said.