If you thought the first race of the season was a test, the JFBBRT U14s faced an entirely different kind of challenge at Blue Mountain on Saturday, January 31st. With single-digit temperatures and below-zero wind chills greeting the team at the start, this was as much a battle against the elements as it was a race down the mountain. Racers were sprinting up and down the hill just to keep warm, and more than a few were shivering in their speed suits as they lined up for their first run. But as we know by now, this team doesn’t back down.
Razor’s Edge Gets a Twist
The race was held on Blue Mountain’s Razor’s Edge trail—and this time, the course came with a wrinkle nobody expected. The mountain groomers left three big mounds of snow right down the middle of the trail. The first run course setter, one of Blue Mountain’s own coaches, snaked the course around all but the third mound, where a gate was placed so racers finished their turn skimming just the side of it. Other than that creative detour, it was a straightforward right-left course with two delays. The snow was soft and grippy, and most racers handled it with ease.
Sun Comes Out, Gloves Come Off
Luckily, the sun broke through strong before the second run, pushing temps into the 20s. No more shivering—just racing. JFBBRT Coach Kurt took on course setting duties for Run 2, and he had a plan. With important help from Coaches Andrew and Trevor to moderate the level of difficulty, he set the course to reward smart turn placement, weaving the gates up and down the sides of the mounds. At the second mound he put the gate below the mound so that they would bank off the side but still had to absorb it while they built pressure into the apex. The third mound was the real test: skiers had to go high and deep, finishing their turn before the mound rose up beneath them. Go too low, and you’d launch off the top with little time to land and make the next turn. Several racers found that out the hard way. It was a technical masterclass of a course, and it separated the great from the good.
Podium Power
What a day for JFBBRT on the podium! Mackenzie grabbed 2nd place overall for the girls, showing the kind of consistency and composure that wins races. On the boys’ side, JFBBRT took two of the three podium spots—Noah claimed 1st place and Jack right behind him in 2nd place. That’s the kind of day that makes all the early mornings and frozen toes worth it.
Making the Flip
After the first run, JFBBRT was well-represented in the top 30. Seven girls made the flip: Mackenzie, Riley, Gabby B., Grace, Erin, Cassidy, and Olivia. Nine boys punched their tickets: Noah, Jack, Kellan, Sawyer, Emraan, Preston, Jake, Julian, and George. Strong showings across the board.
Welcome to GS Racing!
A big shout-out to three girls for whom this was their very first GS race: Emma J., Emma W., and Grayson. All three finished two clean runs on a course that gave plenty of experienced racers trouble. That takes real courage, and we couldn’t be prouder of how they handled it.
Other Standout Performances
Beyond the podium, several JFBBRT racers cracked the top 10 and deserve a shout-out. Cassidy finished 10th overall for the girls, and on the boys’ side, Kellan came in 6th and Sawyer in 9th. Impressive results on a course that had plenty of racers on their heels.
Thank You
As always, none of this happens without the dedicated parent volunteers and race organizers who make these events possible. Thank you for braving the cold right alongside our racers and keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes.
Great job, team. You faced the cold, conquered the mounds, and showed up with heart when it counted. On to the next one!