Big White athlete Tess Critchlow took first place at the Speed Nation Snowboard Cross Nationals, presented by Snowboard Canada, BC Snowboard and Mazda Canada, at TELUS Park on Wednesday, March 27. The 23-year-old was in third around the first and second corner of the track, before pulling ahead for the win.

Photo Credit: Andrew Jay.

“There was a bit of a malfunction with the gate handle at the start so I had a lot of ground to make up,” Critchlow says, “but working for those passes and catching Livia just at the finish line made the win that much more exciting!”

Critchlow finished the race with 180 FIS points, followed by Livia Molodyh (USA), and in third, Josie Baff (Australia).

“We’ve watched Tess grow up from when she attended elementary school at Big White Ski Resort," says Michael J. Ballingall, Senior Vice President at Big White Ski Resort. "What an honour it is to have her in the resort winning the National Championships in front of her parents and friends. We always wish her and all our athletes the best." 

Photo Credit: Andrew Jay.

The Kelowna-based athlete has been racing since the age of six, when she first entered the Neil Edgeworth Memorial Banked Slalom. At 14, Critchlow was picked up by the BC provincial team. Four years later, after claiming the North American title and winning back-to-back Junior National Championships, she was named to the Canadian National team. Last year, at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, in Pyeong Chang, South Korea, Critchlow placed 9th overall in Women's Snowboard Cross.

Photo Credit: Andrew Jay.

“Big White has cruisy groomed runs for learning to carve, fun tree riding that taught me how to be an adaptable racer and of course that Okanagan Champagne Powder that really made me fall in love with snowboarding in the first place,” Critchlow says. “I feel truly blessed to have this community behind me with full support as I grow and progress as a rider.”

Critchlow told Big White she stepped back from racing this past season to focus on the mental side of sport. Now, feeling refreshed and more on top of her game, she says she’s excited to jump back into training this summer and get ready for a full season of racing in 2019/2020. And, in the long term, has her sights set on 2022 Winter Games in China.

Speed Nation events continue this week at TELUS Park, with the under 15 Snowboard Cross event happening Saturday, March 30.