Alberta U14 Finals
The Alberta U14 Finals were hosted by Team Panorama Ski Club March 27-29th at Panorama Resort. Just over 140 athletes competed in GS, Super-G, and Slalom over three days and (6) one-run races. Race Chair Jay McGilvary reported that all the events ran safely and smoothly thanks to a huge number of volunteers that stepped up to work the course. It was also noted by more than a few folks that Team Pano Program Director, Mark Sharp, must be credited with committing a ton of pre-event snowcat rebuild time in order to revive the track to a fantastic race surface having been nearly destroyed only four days earlier after warm weather took it down to the dirt!
On the Women’s side, hometown racer Emerson Dublonko dominated, taking gold in five of the six events. Claire Hiscock of Paskapoo shared the podium with her twice in the Super-G, as did Jasmine Blake from Team Pano West in the GS, and Kim Jayu from Paskapoo in the SL.
In the U14 Men’s, there was a little more movement on the podium, at least after the back to back wins for Colby Lacey of Snow Valley in the Super-G. Pano’s Findlay Spencer collected 1st and 2nd in GS and another 2nd in SL; Lake Louise’s Alexander Howard earned a 2nd in SG, 1st and 3rd in GS, and narrowly missed the podium in SL with two 4th-place finishes, and Merrick McHugh from Team Panorama claimed a SG bronze, GS silver, and gold & silver in the SL.
Race highlights for athletes and spectators alike included a fastest speed clocked in the Super-G of over 93 kmph, a particularly wild Boys’ SL event on Sunday, and a beautiful day of sunshine for the Friday GS.
Overall champions for the U14 Finals Series were named Sunday. Congratulations to this year’s podium:
U14 Women
- Emerson Dublonko, Team Panorama
- Jasmine Blake, Team Panorama West
- London Jensen, Calgary Alpine Racing Club
U14 Men (all three separated by only 10 race points!)
- Colby Lacey, Snow Valley Ski Club
- Spencer Findlay, Team Panorama
- Merrick McHugh, Team Panorama
Finally, a special thanks to CAST alumni Manny Osborne-Paradis for joining the athletes at the banquet and energetically sharing his career experiences from youth racer through to World Cup.
Results of all the racing action can be found here >>
