Golden’s young ski racers put on an impressive showing at Panorama Mountain Resort from January 15 to 18, where the Golden Kicking Horse Alpine Team sent 15 athletes for three days of competition in challenging conditions. Despite the tough course and weather, the team delivered outstanding results, highlighted by several personal bests, podium finishes and top-ten placements.
In the U12 division, Aleks Lenz earned two silver medals, reaching the podium twice. First-year racers Daphne Baker and Nora Pepin also cracked the top ten, with Baker posting three top-ten finishes in sixth, seventh and ninth place, and Pepin finishing sixth.
The U14 athletes competed in five races over the weekend and also produced strong results. Bryce Pepin placed seventh, while Sebastian Baker captured a silver medal, a bronze medal and two fifth-place finishes.
Those performances secured both boys a qualifying spot for the BC Winter Games, marking the first time GKHAT has sent two athletes to the provincial event. Pepin qualified as a first-year U14, an impressive achievement. Both athletes will represent the Kootenay Zone Team at the BC Winter Games in Rossland from February 25 to March 1.
Congratulations go out to all 15 athletes for their growth and determination on the slopes.
~ Submitted by
Sarah Lambert, GKHAT
