Francis Bouffard was the fastest getting down the hill at the RBC Riders race on Sunday at Mt. Sima, but he was the slowest getting home. He lives in Dawson City.
The 15-year-old Dawsonite narrowly captured first place at the second RBC Riders of the season, put on by Snowboard Yukon, before setting out on the 560-kilometre drive home.
“He started training with the (Snowboard Yukon’s) Elite Team this year,” said Snowboard Yukon head coach Mary Binsted. “He’s been coming down almost every week so far – they’re making the drive. He’s a good snowboarder. We’re thrilled he found us and is willing to be part of the team. There are some future opportunities for Francis.”
Bouffard, who was in the 13-and-over division, beat out second place finisher, Tim Schirmer, by a tenth of a second.
Schirmer, who out-placed his older brother Sam in third, was the top 12-and-under competitor. In the 12-and-under division, Schirmer, who rides for the Elite Team – or “E Team” – won over Esa Suomenen in second and Bryton Brown in third.
“I just went. I actually didn’t care,” said Schirmer, who was second overall in December’s Riders race. “It was fun.”
In his first-ever race, Jerrett Bernier took the Most Improved Award, shaving almost eight seconds off his slowest run on his fastest.
“Those were two clean runs and one was eight seconds faster than the other, which is an incredible amount of time to cut off,” said Binsted.
The race took place on Pete’s Plunge on a section of what Mt. Sima intends to turn into a ski-cross and snowboard-cross course to be featured in various Yukon Championships later this season and the Arctic Winter Games next year. It will no doubt be utilized in training by Snowboard Yukon’s three current teams: Sandor’s Sreddders, the Elite Team and the Canada Winter Games team.
“What’s exciting for us this year is we have 20 riders training on the hill every weekend,” said Binsted. “Between all those teams we have 20 riders and seven coaches on the hill.
“Being that there hasn’t been any public attendance on the hill this year, Snowboard Yukon makes up a significant amount of patrons on the hill.”
Overall results
1st Francis Bouffard – 30.8
2nd Tim Schirmer (U-12) – 30.9
3rd Sam Schirmer – 31.6
4th Lara Bellon – 32.1
5th Nick MacDougall – 32.1
6th Nathan Ouimet – 32.8
7th Tristan Brown – 33.9
8th Esa Suominen (U-12) – 34.2
9th Bryton Brown (U-12) – 36.0
10th Jarrett Bernier (U-12) – 42.9
11th Kieran Smythe (U-12) – 44.2
Contact Tom Patrick at tomp@yukon-news.com