SKI CROSS:

Tafel targets Nor-Am ski cross title, with ‘coach’ Hayer providing a boost

March 6, 2011 — Canada Ski Cross

BIG WHITE, B.C. — Tristan Tafel all but locked up the ski cross Nor-Am title at Big White on Saturday and got a taste of the kind of competition he’ll face on the World Cup circuit next season.
 
Tafel, of Canmore, Alta., won Friday’s Sport Chek Canada Ski Cross Nor-Am and was hoping to double up in Saturday’s race until his coach decided to give him a run for his money.
 
“Tristan was second today. There was a new kid out there called Stanley Hayer,” said Stan Hayer, the World Cup veteran who has been coaching Canada’s young skiers on the Nor-Am circuit this season. On Saturday, he decided to race as well as coach.
 
“I’ve been running the course to help give the guys feedback. Today Rob Lepine went out in the second round so I just ran all the way through. It was good to race with Tristan a little bit. He said he was on me the whole way.”
 
Based on unofficial results, Tafel, who was a member of the Raymond James Alberta Ski Team before joining Alberta Ski Cross, has locked up the overall Nor-Am title, meaning he’ll have the chance to compete on the World Cup circuit next season. Before Friday’s race, Tafel had 520 points and a big lead over teammate Lepine, who had 349 points. Following a win and a second-place finish at Big White, Tafel has what looks like an unassailable lead with just two races left to go.
 
The 21-year-old Tafel made his World Cup debut last month at Blue Mountain, Ont., and finished 33rd in qualification, just missing out on making it through to the round of 32. He and his coach enjoyed some friendly banter during Saturday’s race, which Hayer won ahead of Tafel and Ian Deans, of Kelowna, B.C. Robert Mahre of the USA was fourth.
 
“I gave him a hard time. I put him right into the fence at the finish,” said Tafel of Hayer. “Having seen the best in the world compete at Blue Mountain and knowing I was so close to qualifying, it was just amazing. I’m feeling really pumped about ski cross. I’m loving it.”
 
In Friday’s race, Tafel won ahead of Mahre and France’s Thomas Domenach, who has been training with the Canadian team. Lepine, of Whistler, B.C., was fourth.
 
On the women’s side, Canada’s Mikayla Pankratz won Friday’s race ahead of fellow Canuck Sarah Lepine and Australia’s Tessa Maye. No other competitors entered. Whistler’s Catriona Blair, who has been a regular in the Nor-Am races this season, is currently racing on the World Cup circuit with the national team. On Saturday, Sarah Lepine got the win, ahead of Maye and Pankratz.
 
Tafel is looking forward to making the big step up to the World Cup circuit next season.
 
“When I get some help from the national team coaches I’m sure they will be able to whip me into World Cup shape,” he said. “I will be able to compete against the best in the world.”
 
Hayer said there were promising performances from several skiers over the past two days.
 
“Robert Dunn just turned 15 and he was 10th Friday,” said Hayer. “Matty Herauf had a another good run (14th Friday, 13th Saturday). All the guys are doing pretty well. This race was awesome here in Kelowna.”

Next up is the Sport Chek Canada Ski Cross Nor-Am at Red Mountain, from March 10-12.