After attending the B.C. School Sports High School Provincial Championships, held in Whistler last month the Lakes District Secondary School (LDSS) snowboarding and ski teams have a lot to be proud of.
Coach Patti Dube said, "Our boys are the provincial champions and our girls placed second in all of B.C. LDSS student Logan Beedle is the fastest male in the province and students Andre Dube and Elise Dube are the third fastest male and female. We are also the provincial champions in snowboarding between boys and girls combined results for the second year in a row."
Six male snow boarders, five female boarders and three individual skiers attended the provincials representing LDSS, bringing home with them a provincial banner, championship titles and a haul of medals.
"This is remarkable achievement as we compete against all schools in British Columbia regardless of their ranking and we don't have a ski hill [in Burns Lake]," Dube said.
All of the competitors competed in a two-run giant slalom race and a one-run all-terrain race.
On day one out of 90 racers competing in the two-run giant slalom, Logan Beedle came in third place, Collin Bergen came in seventh, and Andre Dube eighth.
The LDSS girls did equally well with Elise Dube placing third out of 55 racers and Mikayla Fairley placing 15.
On the second day of racing the students competed in an all-terrain race.
"It is similar to a boarder cross but only one student competes on the run at a time," explained Dube.
In this race Logan Beedle again claimed the top spot, with Andre Dube in third, Collin Bergen in 10 and Ryan Wilson coming in 26 place.
For the girls Elise Dube claimed third, Mikayla Fairley ninth, Tanis Bjarnason 19 and Breana Blackwell in 29 place.
"Points are accumulated for both race days which decides the top teams," Dube said.
Overall from the LDSS boys snowboarding team first place was awarded to Logan Beedle, fourth to Andre Dube and eighth place to Collin Bergen.
Elise Dube was awarded third place overall as part of the LDSS girls snowboarding team and 12 place went to Mikayla Fairley.
LDSS also scooped first overall in the final school results for boys, followed by Smithers Secondary School and St. George's High School, Vancouver.
The girls scooped second place overall for LDSS, coming in just behind Mark R. Isfeld High School in Courtenay and ahead of Fort St. James Secondary School who took third place over all.
"Our individual skiers competed well throughout their two days of racing and are in the middle of the pack. This is wonderful as they are competing against students who have been ski racing for much of their lives. One of our skiers just started to ski this year, so, Bravo." Dube said.
Dube said most of the competitors from LDSS have been with the team for a number of years. "It has been a pleasure to coach them. Unfortunately, we will be losing a number of our athletes as they will be graduating and we wish them all the best in their future plans," she added.