Speed-skiing event returns to Sun Peaks
Daredevil speed-skiers are getting ready to fly down Tod Mountain at the 22nd Sun Peaks FIS Speed Ski World Cup event, which runs from Thursday, Feb. 28, to Sunday, March 3.
“We feel honoured to be able to say we are the only speed-ski race in North America,” event organizer Adam Earle said.
“Sun Peaks is truly the hotbed of speed-skiing in North America and it’s an extreme-ski event that people have to see to actually believe.“
Racers from 10 countries will careen down the Headwalls Speed Skiing Track at more than 170 km/h.
Practice sessions on Thursday are the pre-cursor to World Cup racing, which runs on Friday, March 1, and Saturday, March 2.
“Most of our racing happens from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day, depending on the weather,” Earle said.
“The best spot to watch from is the bottom of the Little Headwalls for skiers or boarders and, for non-skiers, we have two viewing areas on either side of the finish area."
If the World Cup events are completed as scheduled on Friday and Saturday, the timing trap will be shortened and skiers will attempt to reach 177.21 km/h, a course record set by Sun Peaks local Kenny Dale.
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