Wentworth -
Snowboarders across the Maritimes gathered at Ski Wentworth last Sunday for the third annual RBC Riders program snowboarding competition.
There were 12 snowboarders competing in the RBC Riders program coordinated by the Nova Scotia Snowboard Association.
"The morning went well, we were running a little behind but otherwise a good day," event coordinator Rob Craig said.
According to Craig, there were a number of first timers entered in the competition which Craig said is a great introduction to competitive snowboarding.
There are two types of events with RBC Riders, Slope Style and Snowboardcross. Slope style is a series of jumps, rails and features down a slope while snowboardcross is a timed event over a course with a variety of features such as turns, berms (banked areas), jumps and rollers.
Sunday's RBC Riders event was slope style.
"The RBC Riders is a great program for introduction level athletes that follows the long-term development plan to develop athletes at a younger age enabling them to gain experience in competition for when they reach world cup levels. A number of previous RBC Riders are now on the provincial team," Craig said.
Lisa Morrison, 13, from PEI said the competition was a first for her but plans to continue competitive snowboarding.
"It was really fun, the event wasn't that competitive and coming to the Wentworth ski hill was a nice change from skiing in P.E.I.," Morrison said.
Although they have been snowboarding for the past four years, two additional first timers to the RBC Riders competition in Wentworth were Julia McIntosh, 10, and Noah McIntosh, eight, traveled from Lake Echo (outside Halifax) for the competition.
"It was fun and exciting," Julia said, while her brother, Noah said it was a good time.
Both snowboarders plan to take part in another RBC Riders event in two weeks at Martock ski hill.
Winners for the female categories RBC Riders Snowboarding competition are as follows; ages 8 - 10; gold Julia McIntosh, ages 11 and 12; gold Grace Renny, silver Zoe Francis, ages 13 and 14; gold Lydia McLean, silver Krista Grunsky and bronze Lisa Morrison.
Winners for the male categories are as follows; ages 8 - 10; gold Logan Toole, silver Noah McIntosh, ages 11 and 12; gold Craig Retson, silver Mark Morrison, ages 13 and 14; gold Marc Chasse, silver Adam Steeves.
The RBC Riders program runs all winter long with events in Wentworth,
Martock and Ben Eon. For more information on RBC Riders or Nova Scotia Snowboard Association events check out their website at www.nssa.ca
