It was a day for pushing limits on the last day of the Subaru Velocity Challenge as
athletes in each category competed for prestige and cash prizes.

The Velocity Challenge is awarded to the fastest racer in each category during the entire four days of competition.

Italian speed skier Ivan Origone took the cake in the Men’s Speed 1 category with a
blistering time of 174.72 km/h while Sanna Tidstrand from Sweden won the Speed Ladies division with 170.65 km/h.

With her three wins, Tidstrand is very satisfied with the race results this year.

“It’s great,” said Tidstrand with a smile on her face. “Two years ago, I won the two World Cups and not the Velocity, but now I got all three.”

“The track has been beautiful everyday,” she said. “We had a little bit of bad weather in the first day but then it has been great.”

Sweden’s Sebastian Lindblom clocked in with 161.12 km/h for the Downhill Men’s category. In the Downhill Junior’s division, Sun Peaks 15-year-old speed skier Joss Advocaat
registered 152.46 km/h on the speed trap.

“It’s amazing. It was so close though,” said Advocaat who was just ahead by 0.12ths of a kilometre of Cruize Cleaver.

“In the 22-year history of this event, it was probably one of the best events ever in one of the most adverse conditions ever,” said organizer Adam Earle. “We had high wind,
powder snow, fog and we still managed to execute two World cup races and the Velocity Challenge over the four days.”

“We had 44 racers from 10 countries, which makes it a true international event at Sun Peaks Resort. It’s the only place in North America with an amazing start of the season
for all the World Cup athletes?we’re the first race.”

“We had racers up to 174 km/h which is only 3 km/h shy of the course record by local Kenny Dale, so he’s happy; his record’s intact. And we did 350 speed skiing runs and one
crash with minimal injury.”

“Our amazing group of volunteers that have been with the event for some 20 years along with the local sponsors like Subaru Autosport and Subaru Canada and lots of local
sponsors and suppliers. Without their assistance this huge event couldn’t happen.”

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Correction: This story was posted yesterday with the wrong speed for Ivan Origone. The correct speed is 163.28 km/h which was based on the last run, and not 164.44 km/h which was his best speed of the day.

Simone Origone from Italy won his second World Cup title in speed skiing on March 5 at the 2011 Subaru Velocity Challenge with a speed of 164.10 km/h.

“I’ve done my job,” said Origone. “I came here to do that. My target is to win my World Cup number seven this winter.” After his wins, Origone now has his sixth and is much closer to his goal.

“It’s a good beginning for the season,” he said. “It’s a really good start.”

While Origone seemed pleased about his athletic accomplishment, winning can be a bittersweet experience for this speed skier.

His brother, Ivan Origone, is currently his biggest competition. The younger Origone took the second spot in today’s World Cup race with a speed of 163.28 km/h—just 1.16 kilometre behind his older brother to win the title.

“It’s not so much fun because we live together, we’re travelling together, we stay in the same room; it’s not easy,” explained Simone. “I came here and I want to win (and so does he). It was easier when my (closest competitor) was Philippe May (from Switzerland). (He’s from) another team and a friend but it’s easier. Racing with your brother is not easy.”

The Cleaver brothers from Sun Peaks, who both race but just in different categories, may see themselves in the same position in a few years. Sibling rivalry is something that Blade Cleaver can definitely foresee. Cruize Cleaver won the Downhill Junior’s category at 147.15 km/h while Blade Cleaver is at 147.89 km/h in the Men’s Downhill category.

Asked whether competing with his brother Cruize is an advantage or a disadvantage, Blade says he sees it as a disadvantage, despite the fact that he likes being able to race with his brother.

“When he’s my age, he’s gonna be twice as fast as I am now,” he said. “He’s just got that one or two more years to go.”

However, as they say, it’s not personal, it’s just business.

“Ultimately, when you compete, you compete,” said Origone. “You don’t care if it’s your brother, your father or your friend. It’s a race.”

The good thing is that the racers seem to be good sports on and off the course.

“I think it’s a very laidback atmosphere,” said Dave Park,Western Canada’s regional director for Subaru Canada. “All the contestants seem to like each other and enjoy being here. They seem like a big happy family, actually.”

The event’s main sponsors, Subaru Canada and Zimmer Autosport in Kamloops have been supporting the event for the past five years.

Asked why they chose to support the event, Rob Zimmer from Zimmer Autosport said, “It’s our demographics. Subaru people are natural outdoorsy, adventure type people. And the Velocity Challenge’s participants and spectators are our true core customers.”

As part of the event, eight of the latest models from Subaru are on display at the Sun Peaks Resort Village.

“The neatest one down there is the WRX-STI,” said Rob Zimmer. “It’s probably the only car that you can take from the factory, and compete with in a rally course.”

“We have our Tribecas, Foresters, Legacy, Impreza and our Outbacks down in the village—they’re all beautiful and shiny and we’ve got some great deals on them right now.”

The races will continue tomorrow at 10 a.m. For more information, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@subaruvelocity) and on YouTube. For photos, search for subaruvelocity on Flickr.

This year’s participants show that age is just a number when it comes to joining the 2011 Subaru Velocity Challenge and FIS Speed Ski World Cup. What counts more is courage, skill and determination.

The youngest age that FIS would allow for speed skiing is 15 years old. This year, a handful of participants couldn’t wait to get started. Luckily for them, Velocity Challenge has included a Junior Downhill category for the first time. Joss Advocaat and Elliot Capper are two of the youngest participants at this event.

A Sun Peaks local, Advocaat is following in his father’s footsteps.

“He did it last year and I watched him do it,” said the young Advocaat. “Now I want to do it and I want to beat his time.”

How did his first run go? “It was pretty cool. It was really smooth, like you’re weightless.”

Speed skiing was one of the things Capper always wanted to do and, after turning 15, the British teenager finally has his chance.

“When I moved here about three years ago, I noticed that (news about the race) was going around and I really wanted to do it,” said Capper. “So I applied with the British Speed Ski Team.”

Just like the rest of speed skiing’s cult following, it’s the thrill of the speed that attracted Capper to the sport.

“When I ski, I do like to go fast, and I just wanted to get that feeling. I want to get out of my comfort zone with speed and this is the best way to do it.”

While parents may hesitate about letting their kids compete in extreme sports, having a father who’s into speed skiing helps. When Advocaat said he wanted to compete this year, his dad showed full support. “He said ‘Go at ‘er!’ He was really stoked with me doing it. Lots of enthusiasm.”

Capper’s dad was also thrilled when he signed up. “But my mom—not so happy,” he said. “She’s just obviously being a mother; she’s scared of me crashing. But she’s gonna watch Saturday; they’re proud of me.”

And for those who didn’t start as early as these two, it’s never too late as long as you have the guts to do it.

Just ask 56-year-old John Sharun. A Sun Peaks local, Sharun did it for the first time last year when he signed up for the Downhill race. He’s doing it again this year, but now he’s moved up to the Speed 1 category wearing the full speed skiing regalia.

“I did it last year because it was on my bucket list,” said Sharun. “It was really good, I got hooked!”

“If all goes well, I want to do the European tour next year,” he added.

Today was the first training run for the official races that will be held over the weekend. Ivan Origone from Italy clocked in the fastest time at 115.82 km/h. Finn-Arne Stavik from Norway came in second at 115.69 km/h and Kenny Dale from Sun Peaks is at third place with 115.66 km/h. Organizers had to cancel after one practice run due to strong winds. Training will resume tomorrow at 10 a.m.

To view today’s pictures visit the Velocity Challenge Flickr page. Follow us on Twitter (@subaruvelocity) or on Facebook for live updates.