THUNDER BAY -- Ideally, representatives from Alpine Canada would like a little more elevation for a championship course than Loch Lomond Ski Area is able to offer.
But, after touring the site on Thursday, director of domestic sport Dusan Grasic said the hill will more than suit their purposes to host the return of the 2017 U-16 national championships that will bring the country’s top 14- and 15-year-old racers to Thunder Bay from Feb. 21 to 25.
“It’s actually perfect for slalom and giant slalom,” Grasic said, moments after making his final inspection of the facility.
“We are challenged with vertical distance on the Super G, but it has features where if we’re a little bit creative we can build features into the terrain, do it in two runs and actually close the gap for the vertical lack that we have.”
Despite not nearing the height of more well known facilities in Alberta and Quebec, choosing Thunder Bay and Loch Lomond is also good for the sport and its growth, Grasic added.
“We would like to promote skiing across the whole country. Thunder Bay has a strong ski club and a strong ski community,” he said, adding there almost certainly will be future Olympians in the field. “We would like to be present in every part of Canada.”
Spots will also be set aside for local skiers, though Grasic said several will likely earn their way into the field on merit.
Gwen Binsfeld, president of CADS Ontario, said the site is a perfect fit for disabled athletes, who have to be able to unload their gear, get to the chairlift and then ski down the hill.
“Coming down the hill for our athletes is usually the easiest part of their day. It’s often more challenging getting from the parking lot. This facility is ideal for us. We can just drive in, unload and get onto the chair,” Binsfeld said.
“That goes for the First Experience (program) as well as the high level athletes.”
Binsfeld said in addition to the competition, her organization goes out of its way to introduce the sport to disabled athletes in the community, something they plan to do in fourth month’s time.
CADS hosts para-alpine events every two years, in conjunction with the U-16 event.
“It’s been successful in some place, not so much in others,” she said. “But we’re happy to get into as many integrated (events) as we can, because it takes the same number of crew to get out and host a race for 20 athletes that are para as it does for 170 athletes that are able-bodied.”
Alpine Canada awarded the event, which will also include a para-alpine component, to Ontario. Just two bids were submitted, Collingwood, Ont. being the other community to express interest.
Event chair Dave Bradley said the 2017 championships will build on the facility’s hosting of the 2015 U-16 provincials, which he estimated had about a $1-million impact in the province and community.
The five-day event, which will be run in conjunction with Canada 150 celebrations, has a budget just north of $300,000, and up to 170 skiers are expected to take part.
