It’s with a heavy heart that I must announce that the 2012 Subaru Velocity Challenge and FIS Speed Ski World Cup at Sun Peaks Resort, B.C. Canada to be held March 8^th to 11^th 2012 is “officially” cancelled.

Unfortunately this year’s event has succumb to the current economic pressures being felt by many in the sporting and business world and we are unable to secure enough sponsorship funding at this time to successfully host our speed skiing event in a manner acceptable to the many people, sponsors and organizations involved in running this historic speed skiing event.

While we are unable to host the event this year, we will be pressing forward in the coming months with our efforts to once again host events in 2013 and beyond and we look forward to working with all the people, businesses and organizations involved to make this event even better in the future.

I would like take this time to thank all our long time and amazingly dedicated volunteers and sponsors for their continued support. The Velocity “Safety” Crew, The Velocity Medical Team, Sun Peaks Resort Corporation and staff, Tourism Sun Peaks, Subaru Canada, Zimmer Autosport, Canadian Snowsports Association, Speed Skiing Canada, the community of Sun Peaks and all our other dedicated sponsors and suppliers for their continued support over the past decades. Without the support of these many groups, businesses and organizations this event could have never got off the ground so many years ago.

I also truly wish to thank all the speed ski racers from around the globe that have made an annual pilgrimage to Sun Peaks Resort to race on the Headwalls Speed Ski Track over the past many years, as without these intrepid souls and their support of our event and their true passion for racing and the sport of speed skiing, this event would simply never be. We wish you all the best during your 2012 racing season. Be safe and go fast.

In closing please pass this “ Cancellation Notice” on to all departments, staff, fellow racers, ski federations or anyone else this notice should get to and please correct any online calendars or event sheets that list the March 8^th to 11^th 2012 dates.

Thank you all for your support of the Sun Peaks Velocity Challenge and we’ll see you next year.

Kind Regards,

Adam Earle

Organizer

[View more photos at the end of the story]

Shortly before our  takeoff from the Kamloops Airport on April 4  for  races in Vars, France which included a FIS World Cup race and a World Record attempt, a huge avalanche destroyed the speed ski track and cancleled the whole event.

Luckily no one was injured or worse, as it was a huge slide that took out the whole speed ski track . It was very sad for the whole speed ski community as Vars had spent months and hundreds of thousands of dollars on this world-class event.

As we were on-route to Europe and couldn’t change our travel plans, we came to Europe anyway. Thankfully, Gerald Allgaier, Team Canada’s only coach, trainer, sherpa and all around travel supporter had relatives in Germany which were happy to host us while we waited for the next race in Verbier, Switzerland, starting on April 16.

After several days of German hospitality, tons of food and a fair amount of schnapps we headed to the next race stop, Verbier, Switzerland. Upon arrival on April 8, we realized we had nothing  to do but help the organizers set-up for the fast approaching  races April 16 to 23rd.

While the beaches of southern Europe were tempting,  we had one week until racing so we decided to stay and help the Verbier race organizers in  anyway we could. To say that they welcomed our help and our presence with open arms would be a total understatement as we’ve been treated not only like locals but as special guests. We were honored to lend a hand to this amazing group. We’ve not only made many new friends but have also connected with many in the speed skiing community that I haven’t seen in over 20 years. It’s truly a community that once entered, you can never leave.

After a week of working with this group helping them with their multi-race eight day event, it’s finally time to put on my race face. Today was the POP KL event which has recreational racers from around Europe and abroad  test their bravery on the Mont Fort Speed Track and smiles were everywhere. Over 60 racers from aged 9 to 60 plus tested  themselves at speeds up to 159 km/h.

A few of us that had arrived early for the Championships were were offered training runs for the upcoming FIS World Championships that commence on Monday. The top unofficial speed today was 168.89 km/h by Simone Origone of Italy. Race host and organizer Philippe May was only .5 km/h back. These speeds were attained from below the half track mark and we’re looking forward to speeds over 200 km/h in the coming days.

Today we had a second day of training which saw a top speed of 170 km/h by Philippe May. Yesterday I had new suit issues but was happy with 164 km/h and today was even better at 165 km/h.

The FIS World Speed Ski Championships start tomorrow April 18 and run until April 20 with the Speed Masters Pro Race April 21 to 23.

With almost no snow in Europe it’s unlikely we’ll be able to use the new launch ramp in Verbier this year but still expect speeds over 200 km/h in the coming days.

Race updates daily and hopefully by weeks end I’ll be a member of the 200 km/h club.

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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