Local Sports

While most motorsport fans think of multi-million dollar speed machines, spectacular crashes and sponsorship dollars, a group of Canmore car enthusiasts have another vision of track glory.

Mike Gillespie is at the top of his class. In his final year before graduating to FIS racing, he decimated the competition during the final month of the Alpine ski season.

Three generations ago, John Monod arrived in Banff from Switzerland with five dollars in his pocket, a watch and nothing else. He traded the watch for accommodation and worked to allow him to partake of his love of skiing.

Canmore is now home to three provincial gymnastics champions. Luke Fricker, Spencer Funk and Erika Lepper claimed top spot in their events on April 16 in Lethbridge, defeating many of the top gymnasts in Alberta.

Boxing fans are bracing for another rumble in the Rockies. Friday night fights are returning to Canmore in May as several local boxers will lace up the gloves next month for the first sanctioned event of the season.

Brian McKeever is no one trick pony.

American Jared Minghini spoiled the day for Canadian snowboard cross, taking gold in the snowboard cross competition in Lake Louise away from several national team members. “I’d rather be U.S.

Dominique Maltais, the world’s best female snowboard cross racer, decimated the competition at the Canadian championship Saturday (April 9) at Lake Louise. “It’s fun.

In a push to keep more budding athletes in the sport, Canmore has been named the site of a new National Biathlon Training Centre. “This is a brave new step for biathlon in this country,” said Biathlon Canada Chairman Ken Davies.

With a world champion to his left and Canadian ski cross superstars to his right, Tristan Tafel’s stomach churned in the starting gate of the Canadian ski cross nationals in Lake Louise last weekend.