Snowboarding teams win CISAA gold, silver

February 17, 2016 · 0 Comments

The CDS boys’ snowboarding team won CISAA Gold and the girls’ team won CISAA silver last week at Alpine Ski Club. As a result, both senior boys’ and girls’ teams qualified for OFSAA on March 3 with the boys taking the 2nd place spot and the girls earning the top spot.

By Jen Weening
and Paul Sward
The CDS boys’ snowboarding team won CISAA gold and the girls’ team won CISAA silver last week at Alpine Ski Club. As a result, both senior boys’ and girls’ teams qualified for OFSAA on March 3 with the boys taking the 2nd place spot and the girls earning the top spot.
Last year, our boys’ team qualified by virtue of CISAA hosting OFSAA and therefore were allowed to bring their fourth place team as well.
“This jump in our standings says so much about our athletes’ commitment to improvement and excellence. I am so proud of this team, and seeing them with all of their medals was incredibly gratifying,” said head coach Jennifer Weening.
According to parent coach Paul Sward: “The shortened season meant there was a lot at stake and with points and a half being awarded for individual and team performance, it was anyone’s championship to win.”
U14 racer Jeevan Gosal recorded the 7th fastest time on the hill for all boys competing and clinched our team win after we lost two other high level boarders to bad conditions, ruts and slush.
Rebecca Train saved her best race of the season for the Championship (and her home turf, Alpine). Her 5th place finish earning just enough points to propel our girls team to a silver medal season championship.
Highlights from the Championship (season-long points standings with over 120 boarders vying for the top spots):
L2 Open Boys
Lucas Venere – CISAA silver medalist.
U14 Girls
Anna Croxon – 5th overall in Grand Slalom (GS)* and 2nd overall in Slopestyle (SS).
Tegan Asprey – 6th overall in GS and 1st overall in SS.
U14 Boys
Jeevan Gosal – CISAA U14 gold medalist in GS and 5th overall in SS.
Sam Henderson – CISAA U14 silver medalist in GS and CISAA gold medalist in SS.
Scott McCann – 3rd overall in GS and 3rd overall in SS.
Liam Wishart – 7th overall in GS and 4th overall in SS.
U16 Girls
Jillian Sward – CISAA U16 gold medalist in GS and CISAA U16 gold medalist in SS.
Kitt Empey – 4th overall in GS and CISAA U16 silver medalist in SS.
Daya Gosal – 6th overall in GS and 3rd overall in SS.
Rebecca Train – 7th overall in GS and 4th overall in SS.
U16 Boys
Cole Walker – CISAA U16 Silver medalist in GS.
Ethan Lavis – 4th overall in GS and 4th overall in SS.
Wilson O’Neill – 7th overall in SS.
Tristan Forster – 8th overall in GS and 8th overall in SS.
Jake Keslick – despite a broken arm – 9th overall in SS.
U20 Boys
Alex Sward – CISAA U20 gold medalist in GS and 10th in SS.
Willem von Schilling – 8th overall all in GS.
Jackson Empey – a solid start to the season with an 8th place finish in GS at Devils Glen, Jackson was taken out by injury in an icy parking lot at Craigleith Ski Club the following weekend
Last week’s CISAA success was followed by the team’s participation in the first-ever CISAA snowboard cross event yesterday at Sir Sams Ski Hill. Seven CDS riders (Alex Sward, Willem von Schilling, Ethan Lavis, Jillian Sward, Kitt Empey, Daya Gosal & Rebecca Train) earned one of the 16 possible spots on the CISAA-representing OFSAA teams. The inaugural OFSAA snowboard cross event will take place March 4.
Look out OFSAA – here we come!