NATC Athletes Compete at Red Mountain in GMC Cup - Jeff Miles
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 1:54PM
The National Alpine Training Centre took just a small portion of their team to Rossland B.C. for a competition at Red Mountain. With Andrea Turner, Thea Miles and our Head Coach Ian Fulton at the Canada Games in Halifax as well as the unfortunate loss of two other athletes, one to homework and another who moved to the other side of the world. It was a group consisting of coach Scott Zahn, Megan Henkelman, Zoe Hertz, Jonas Ordman and myself; Jeff Miles.
The race had some top competition with members of the Junior U.S. Ski Team and Canadian Prospect Team. A GMC Cup usually draws these better athletes, even in the cold weather that we had the first day thanks to the prize money that can be won.
The first day proved to be trying for Megan and Jonas where as Zoe and I both finished close enough to the leader to score some points. I came in 8th and scored my first under 60 point result (59). Zoe placed in the top 30 and scored a 93. The second day was a little tougher for myself as on the seventh gate my ski popped off and I slid down the pitch on my chest. Megan still didn't do great and Jonas went out again. Zoe scored a matching result to bring her F.I.S. points to an even 93, she had a good day. As the third day came along we switched events and runs. Zoe scored for the third day in a row coming 24th and Megan placed 3rd for the J1 category and in the top 15 overall as well as scoring a 78. Quite good! As for Jonas and I… We both went out
The fourth and final day was warm. Finally! but it was foggy and snowy. Zoe didn't manage to continue her streak as she messed up really badly. Jonas went out but was so close, I screwed up on both runs and moved back. Megan was great as she carved into 2nd for J1's and 15th overall. we are not sure yet what she scored but it should be about another 70 today.
Now we are driving back and I think about the last four days. A smile pulls across my face as I think of how our team faired. It was good on all accounts i'd say. Even if we didn't ski our fastest I know that we all had fun in some of the worlds steepest tree runs and deepest snow. It was truly special weekend I'd say. I just hope some of the roads open so that we can actually get all the way home tonight or even by tomorrow morning. If not I guess we will have to just go skiing in the 68 cm of snow at Fernie until they open. Shame (sarcasm!)