Written by AOA Executive Director Scott Barrett. 
We’ve enjoyed working with new sponsor Pizza Pizza and I thought the late afternoon delivery of 50 XL pizzas was a nice cap to the week. We served up slice after slice to all the racers after their 2nd runs and I’m sure the coaches & crew were happy for a late day snack before tear down.

Along with great sponsors Mackenzie Investments, Sporting Life, Karbon and the NZ Foundation I tip my hat to Andrea Holland, ROC Chair and the whole club for doing a great job at the finish with hay bales around a fire pit, the outdoor bar & BBQ, the warming tents with heaters and of course allowing us to park the Pizza Pizza RV on the side of the hill.

Bright blue skies oversaw our final day at the U14 Mackenzie Investments OCUP Finals and the nice warm temps in the afternoon made for a perfect Slalom finish. I again took up my post in the finish hut announcing the 2nd run and admit I love the Top 30 flip and the challenge of attempting to track 3 kids in one go – the first leaving the start, the next on the pitch and the 3rd approaching the finish. I do apologize if didn’t quite get it right every time – it’s not as easy as it might seem!

Congrats to the podium winners in Slalom:

1 Basil, Sydney – Alpine Ski Club/SOD 48.59 (1) 52.97 (1) 1:41.56
2 Finoro, Nikki – NSA/SOD 49.06 (3) 53.21 (2) 1:42.27
3 Robinson, Penny – TBFST/LSDA 49.66 (6) 53.98 (3) 1:43.64

1 Burnes, Christopher – Craigleith/SOD 45.61 (1) 45.92 (2) 1:31.53
2 Blandford, Kyle – TSC/SOD 47.06 (4) 45.84 (1) 1:32.90
3 Gatcliffe, James – Georgian Peaks/SOD 46.78 (3) 47.72 (7) 1:34.50

The overall Pizza Pizza OCUP FINALS winners were Sydney Basil of Alpine Ski Club & Kyle Blandford of the Toronto Ski Club. The overall Mackenzie Investments OCUP Series winners were Sydney Basil again and Chris Burnes of Craigleith Ski Club. Visit the U14 Racing page here to see overall and final OCUP Points & U14 OCUP Provincial Championships.

Results from the Mackenzie U14 Provincials will determine the U14 CanAm selections to be announced early this week. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who made for a a great 10 days of U16 & U14 OCUP FINALS!