Soleil Patterson couldn't do much about the clouds and snow flurries that descended on the giant slalom course Wednesday at Purden Mountain Ski Resort but she continued to shine at the Teck BC Alpine under-16 provincial championships.
The Red Mountain racer from Rossland topped a field of 63 girls with a two-run combined time of two minutes 7.14 seconds to win Day 1 of the two-day GS competition. Patterson, who was first in the super-G Tuesday and second in that event on Monday, was the only female skier to break the one-minute barrier on Wednesday.
She did that in the morning run, clocking 59.86, followed by a 1:07.28 run in the afternoon. Laura Swafield of Whistler (2:10.47) and Gabrielle Smith of Whistler (2:11.47) shared the medal podium with Patterson.
Tiana Gairns of Prince George was seventh in 2:13.17. Gabriela Willick of Prince George posted a two-run time of 2:21.67. Her overall placing was not available.
In the men's GS race Wednesday, Max Kirshenblatt of Whistler was first among 53 skiers, finishing his two runs in 2:00.43, followed by second-place Simon Bernard of Big White (2:01.17) and third-place Kole Harle of Mount Washington (2:01.25). Kirsenblatt won the super-G races Monday and Tuesday
Shawn Nydegger of Prince George just missed a medal by 11 one-hundredths of a second, ending up fourth in 2:01.36.
Noah Jacob of Prince George was 25th in 2:15.11. Gavin Rowell, the only other Prince George skier, did not finish his first run.
The provincial championships continues today with giant slalom races starting at 9 a.m. Slalom events are planned for Friday and Saturday at Purden.
