Alpine skiers score big flag points on day one

By Julianne Zussman, Team BC Mission Staff

Team BC collected seven top 10 finishes in men’s and women’s super G on the first day of ski racing at the 2015 Canada Winter Games.  Despite missing out on the podium, the group collected important flag points for their top finishes – fifth, sixth, and seventh place for the men, and fifth, eighth, and 10th place for the ladies.

Kristina Natalenko (New Westminster) and Kasper Woolley (Squamish) finished fifth in their respective races.  Katie Fleckenstein (Vancouver), who finished eighth, was pleased with her performance as a starting point for the week.

“My goal was to beat my bib and I did that, so I’m happy.  I can do better tomorrow, but as a first day getting all the nerves out, it was good,” said Fleckenstein.

After delaying the super G due to weather, race conditions were favourable for racers at Purden Mountain, and many of the skiers commented on the course.

“The run was super fun,” said Fleckenstein.  “That was probably the nicest run I’ve ever skied in my life, the course was so nice and the snow was so nice, and it was just a really great day.”

Tomorrow the ladies are back at Purden to compete in giant slalom, and are joined by the para-alpine ladies in the same event.

See Canada Games live streaming at www.canadagamestv.ca and follow live updates on Twitter from @GoTeamBC with the hashtag #TBCAlpine.