Rising New Westminster winter athletes, both indoors and outdoors, are heading north later this month for the 2024 BC Winter Games.
Four teens will be representing the city at the biannual event, taking place in Lhtako Quesnel from Feb. 22 to 25.
All of the qualifiers will look to medal with the Fraser River region in their respective sport.
New West was originally sending six athletes to the north central region. However, "unfavourable snow conditions in the host community" forced three provincial sport organizations to withdraw from the games.
This includes alpine skiing, of which Andrew Mackie and Anya Neil had qualified.
In a news release on Friday, Feb. 9, the BC Games Society said "a lack of snowpack" at Troll Ski Resort "and the absence of heavy snowfall in the forecast" led to the decision, which was also made after "extensive consultation" with coaches.
The organization added the snow events won't be able to take place on another Quesnel-area mountain.
"It takes over 18 months for host societies to plan the BC Winter Games, and agreements with local ski resorts are signed early in the process to reserve space, ensure that technical requirements are met, and secure the appropriate volunteer workforce to support events."
The Games Society said affected athletes will still be eligible for certificates and credits, as well as submission entry for the BC Games Leadership Bursary.
At the last Winter Games in 2022, New West athletes racked up six medals in the Greater Vernon area, including two silver and four bronze. The Fraser River Zone 4 cohort collected 101 in total.
For more information on the 2024 BC Winter Games, you can visit the event's website.
The local athletes for 2024 are as follows (in alphabetical order by sport):
Curling (female)
- Catalina Pagnotta
- Luisa Stephen
Judo
- Corban Gruzling
- Mingzhong Xu
