Snow Sports NZ sent six U16 and six U14 athletes to this year’s Whistler Cup, April 11 - 14 2019, where U14’s Mikayla Smyth (CAST, Wanaka Ski and Snow Sports Club) and Alec Jackson (Elite Sport, St Arnaud’s Ski Racing Foundation) led the way for Team NZ.
Mikayla Smyth followed up her silver in Slalom with victory in GS crushing the field by over 3.29 seconds. Alec Jackson took silver in GS and 7th in Slalom. The Team Pro Slalom Event was another strong finish for the NZ Team with the girls placing 3rd and the boys placed 4th in the U14 team event.
In total, Team NZ took home with 4 medals and 9 top 20 individual results.
In U16 Super G the team’s strongest performance were from Olivia Flight in 12th and Sam Hadley in 16th. In U16 GS, James Stanfield finished 17th and Olivia Flight 24th. The Slalom proved a challenge for the NZ team with no finishes for the men and a 22nd place for Olivia Flight.
Other highlights from the U14’s came from Ruby Fullerton 17th and Thomas Picton-Warlow 18th in GS.
Full results available here
The Whistler Cup is the only FIS-sanctioned event of its kind in North America, enabling U16s to see how they stack up against the best in the world in their age group. With the ability to compete on a world stage, these athletes get a glimpse into the depth that exists, further preparing them as they develop into FIS-level athletes. New Zealand’s previous Whistler Cup winners include Alice Robinson (2015).
U16
Olivia Flight (QAST)
Mackenzie Frost (CAST, Twizel Snow Club)
Michol Hinton (QAST)
Sam Hadley (CAST, Wanaka Ski and Snow Sports Club)
James Stanfield (QAST)
Albie O’Connell (QAST)
U14
Mikayla Smyth (CAST, Wanaka Ski and Snow Sports Club)
Alys Scott (Team Hutt, Mt Hutt Ski Club)
Ruby Fullerton (Elite Sport, St Arnaud’s Ski Racing Foundation)
Alec Jackson (Elite Sport, St Arnaud’s Ski Racing Foundation)
Thomas Picton Warlow (CAST, Wanaka Ski and Snow Sports Club)
Anton Simpson (QAST)
Coaching and Support Staff
Ben Griffin
Willis Feasey
Tim Wallace
Linus Mettler
Bindy Egden
5 years ago