Josie Storey and Abby Hawes are best friends. They are also rivals on the slopes.
The two 14-year-olds had the fastest overall times at the Yukon Cup at Mount Sima over the weekend.
Hawes had the fastest time of any skier in the giant slalom on Saturday, while Storey had the fastest overall time in the slalom event on Sunday.
Though Hawes has finished in front of her buddy in some Outside races, like in Lake Louise last month, Saturday was the first time she beat Storey at Yukon’s alpine race championship.
“I was actually really happy with that,” said Hawes.
“This year I’ve been getting stronger and I’m just getting better at skiing,” she added. “It just kind of happened that way.”
Hawes and Storey, who were competing in under-16 females, are both members of the Yukon Alpine Race Team.
Producing the third fastest time for females in giant slalom was race teammate Katie Vowk in the under-14 female division.
In Sunday’s slalom event, Tayler Mitchell had the third fastest time overall on the day. Mitchell is also on the Yukon Alpine Race Team and competes in under-16 female.
“What surprised me was that, in the slalom, Tayler Mitchell was right behind them,” said Yves Titley, the race team’s head coach. “She improved her times.”
Even younger skiers were the fastest for males both days.
Yukon race team’s Charlie Hawes had the fastest time in the giant slalom on Saturday. Charlie, who was in under-12 males, was the only skier other than Storey and Abby to break the one-minute mark.
Under-12’s Shane Orban was second fastest for males on Saturday and Storey’s father David had the third fastest time, skiing in open men.
Orban had the overall fastest time for males in Sunday’s slalom in front of fellow under-12 skiers Liam Diamond and Jake Charleton.
Orban is another member of Yukon’s race team and Diamond and Charleton are in the developmental Snow Stars program.
“Shane joined the team two years ago and he’s improving quite a lot,” said Titley. “He’s a big boy and he’s got quite a good technique now.
“All the other kids should keep an eye on him. He’s just 12 and he’s a strong skier.”
Storey won silver in dual slalom at the 2012 Arctic Winter Games in juvenile girls and also produced two fourth-place finishes.
Storey’s silver was the first Arctic Games medal won by the Yukon in alpine skiing since 2006.
“Another one I’d like to mention is Kendra Peters,” said Titley. “I saw her ski and, man, that girl has potential.
“From a coach’s point of view, when I see her come down, I can see she has potential.”
The 2013 Yukon Cup featured 27 racers on Saturday and 16 on Sunday.
Giant slalom results
Under-eight female (short course)
1st Lydia Brown - 1:06.15
2nd Adelle Anderson - 1:07.35
3rd Aniela Hanley - 1:15.50
4th Jordan Minifie - 1:21.67
Under-eight male (short course)
1st Alex Brown - 1:03.65
2nd Gallagher D’Abramo - 1:11.18
3rd Axel Anderson - 1:19.31
Under-10 female
1st Greta Gladwin - 1:26.68
2nd Mollie Fraser - 1:27.95
Under-10 male
1st Orin Gladwin - 1:22.12
2nd Clayton Chapman - 1:27.24
3rd Nikos Legere-Melanson - 2:08.98
Under-12 female
1st Kendra Peters - 1:17.88
Under-12 male
1st Charlie Hawes - 59.19
2nd Shane Orban - 1:01.05
3rd Manas Toews - 1:13.66
4th Liam Diamond - 1:14.58
Under-14 female
1st Katie Vowk - 1:00.84
2nd Samantha Richardson - 1:11.66
3rd Grace-Anne Janssen- 1:25.05
4th Lydia Wilks - 1:31.26
Under-16 female
1st Abby Hawes - 56.64
2nd Josie Storey - 58.41
3rd Tayler Mitchell - 1:01.10
Open female
1st Sandy Birrell - 1:03.03
2nd Kaitlynn Mitchell - 1:04.20
Open male
1st David Storey - 1:12.80
Slalom results
Under-10 female
1st Greta Gladwin - 1:31.68
2nd Mollie Fraser - 1:32.60
Under-10 male
1st Orin Gladwin - 1:24.42
Under-12 female
1st Kendra Peters - 1:24.00
Under-12 male
1st Shane Orban - 1:04.37
2nd Liam Diamond - 1:20.56
3rd Jake Charleton - 1:22.54
4th Manas Toews - 1:23.06
5th Charlie Hawes - 1:28.90
Under-14 female
1st Samantha Richardson - 1:07.34
2nd Grace-Anne Janssen - 1:32.37
3rd Lydia Wilks - 1:36.95
Under-16 female
1st Josie Storey - 53.67
2nd Abby Hawes - 56.84
3rd Tayler Mitchell - 1:02.29
Open female
1st Kaitlynn Mitchell - 1:04.05
Contact Tom Patrick at
tomp@yukon-news.com