The Jasper Junior Olympics had been crossing its fingers that this year would be a little warmer, but last weekend proved to be frigid as usual.
Nevertheless, Marmot Basin was lucky enough to receive a tremendous 78 centimetres of new snow during the prior six days.
This ensured the 422 young skiers had plenty of the white stuff, which has been in short supply this winter. The event also had 320 volunteers.
The Jasper Junior Olympics is run through the Alberta North Zone Ski Racing Society, with the Race Organizing Committee composed of multiple clubs from across northern Alberta.
“Jasper is really accommodating with giving us a little space, and we've got some really good sponsors this year and we got an extra trailer this year, which was really good,” said volunteer co-ordinator Nicole Porodo.
Porodo voiced gratitude for the abundant snow but not so much for the low temperature.
“For some reason, it always gets a little extra cold on a JJO every year. It doesn't matter. We thought this year would be different, given that it hasn’t been a cold this year, but no.”
Some of the clubs came up to practice on Thursday, but by Friday, almost all of them are shredding snow at Marmot Basin.
The North Zone also has a skill test to ensure all the clubs are teaching the skills properly and where all the athletes are at.
The events themselves took place on Saturday and Sunday.
The results can be found at the Jasper Junior Olympics’ website.
