Student Blog

by Maja from Germany

One of my favorite experiences this month was my time with the ski team of our school.  We had practice twice in the last weeks of January and then raced in Kimberley on February 6^th. Almost everyone on our team was international so we called ourselves “Team Europe”.

We took a school bus to Kimberley in the morning. Then we got our bibs. My number was 216. In total, we were 54 skiers for the girls, 47 skiers for the Boys and a snowboard race. For me, it was surprising how many students attended the race. There were schools from all over the East Kootenays. Many of the students that were there that day actually raced in their free time as well.

After we got our bibs we headed to the course and started with the inspection. Inspection means that all the racers have the opportunity to slowly go through the course to kind of know when to turn and how close the gates are. We raced Giant Slalom which means that the gates aren’t very close. Soon after the first of two runs started. For me it was the first time racing so I wasn’t really fast but it was a lot of fun. Then it was the boys’ turn, so my friends and I had some time to ski a few runs until it was our turn again. My second run was better than my first one and I felt more comfortable. After the race, we had about three hours left to ski on our own so my friends and I did a few runs including some Black Diamonds.

All in all the day was amazing and so much fun. I ended up being placed 36^th. My friend Merle was placed 44^th  and my friend Lilly got 9^th which we were most proud of.

Photo and blog post submitted by Maja, a grade 11 student at Mount Baker Secondary School in Cranbrook, BC.