Local Sports

Paul Stutz is taking on the world – all by himself. The Banff slalom expert is racing as an independent on the world cup alpine ski circuit for the second season in a row, and is posting some of the best results of his young career.

In search of help to overcome recent inconsistent play, the Canmore Eagles needed look no further than their own backyard.

Two Canadian national ski team members used the Rocky Mountain Challenge at the Canmore Nordic Centre to jumpstart stalled seasons on Sunday, Jan 30.

Bow Valley senior biathletes have posted a mixed bag of results this year on the world cup circuit and returned home to train in preparation for the final push of the season.

Robby Balharry’s ascent up the nation’s slopestyle and big air snowboard rankings continued last week with two more top 10 results. “It’s going good. I’m stoked about how the season has gone so far,” Balharry said.

Blaine Penny and Kirk Howell crossed the finish line together to win the 2011 Banff to Lake Louise Loppet in a time of 4:44:18. The two Calgarians are originally from Newfoundland and have been competing against one another for years.

The Canmore Eagles have battled injury problems all season long and the past weekend was no different. “In all my years of hockey, I’ve never seen it as bad as this,” said head coach Andrew Milne.

Just call him the collector. Biathlete Mark Arendz polished off his set of world cup medals with a golden performance on Jan. 23, capping a three medal weekend.

Dasha Gaiazova turned in the best solo race of her career, finishing eighth in a cross-country world cup sprint race, Sunday (Jan. 23). “I was so pumped I made it to the top 12. I knew I was skiing so well,” Gaiazova said.

For 30 years, Canmore resident Beryl Park dreamed of visiting Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains. Never in her dreams however, did she imagine she’d make news by doing so, nor earn a spot in the Guinness Book of Records.