Gibson, Kobasiuk ski to Teck Open slalom podium

Charlotte Gibson harnessed lightning in her skis Sunday on the slalom course in the season-opening B.C. Alpine Teck Open event at Sun Peaks.

The 15-year-old Prince George Alpine Ski Team racer blasted out to the lead with the quickest time of the day in her first run (51.46 seconds), then clocked 52.52 to win the event with the fastest cumulative time (1:43.98) in a field of 66 racers.

Gibson's Prince George teammate, 15-year-old Melinda Kobasiuk, shared the medal podium after she placed third overall in 1:46.41. Noa Rogers of Penticton captured silver in 1:44.85.

In other Prince George results Sunday, Jacob Hoskins, 14, finished sixth in the men's slalom. Hoskins clocked a two-run total of 1:45.34. Chase Burns of Whistler set the pace, winning gold in 1:40.37. The men's race drew 62 skiers. Jack Logan of Prince George finished 20th.

In other local results from the women's race, Amelie Brulotte was 19th, Ella Francis placed 36th and Erica McCallum finished 46th.

The impressive results for Prince George athletes and two medals to celebrate on the final day of the four-day event were enough to make Kali Holahan lose her voice from cheering on her skiers. Holahan and Phil Soicher are the Prince George club coaches.

"It was incredible to watch our athletes ski on Sunday, everyone was at their best and we saw some incredible skiing from our athletes," said Holahan, in an email to The Citizen.

Neither Gibson nor Kobasiuk finished Saturday's slalom race. In other Prince George women's results Saturday, Francis was 34th and McCallum was 42nd. In the men's race, Hoskins placed 13th and Logan ended up 45th.

The event was a qualifier for BC Alpine's Canada Winter Games team. It started with giant slalom races Thursday and Friday. On Friday, in the women's GS, Kobasiuk placed 12th; Brulotte, 24th; Francis, 44th; McCallum, 56th; while Gibson did not finish. In the men's race, Hoskins was 22nd and Logan was 44th.

Thursday's GS results were as follows: Women - Gibson, 11th; Kobasiuk, 12th; Brulotte, 24th; Francis, 45th; and McCallum, 54th. Men - Hoskins, 22nd; Logan, 44th.

Round 2 of the Teck Open series is scheduled for Kimberley, Feb. 7-10.

In other local ski news, Purden Ski Village (60 kilometres east of Prince George) will host a zone slalom race for under-six, under-8, under-10, under-12 and recreational skiers on Saturday. Racing starts at 10:30 a.m.