Two North Shore athletes have found the podium during Week 1 action at the Canada Winter Games in Prince George, B.C.
North Vancouver’s Mark Robertson scored silver in para-alpine giant slalom Tuesday. The 15-year-old claimed his medal despite battling through an injury that kept him off the slopes for much of the season.
“I’ve been out with a knee injury so that has really affected my training,” he stated in a Team B.C. release. “I didn’t know what to expect and it hurt a bit but some Advil and putting it in the snow settled it down.”
Robertson reportedly did not enter a competition this season prior to Tuesday’s race, instead spending his time working with a physio to get his knee into shape for the Games.
“I finished fourth at nationals last year but this is my first big win,” he said. “It’s pretty special and it’s something I’ve never experienced. The course was really good and the snow was great, absolutely perfect.”
“All of our athletes have risen to the challenges in front of them, and showed a true sense of sportsmanship and class,” said Team B.C. para-alpine head coach John Newton. “On top of an already great experience we get to bring medals back home!”
North Vancouver’s Michael Sibley also hit the podium in Prince George, winning bronze Monday as a member of the province’s men’s gymnastics team.
Aaron Mah and Darren Wong from Vancouver, Cameron Stanley from Cultus Lake, Steven Chaplin from Mission, and Alexander Farquharson from Delta joined Sibley to place third behind Ontario and Quebec.
Sibley’s performance also earned him a spot in Wednesday’s all-around competition, in which he placed 22nd.
