Page 10A The Castlegar Sun Wednesday, February 19, 1992 Our own Olympic champ Bruce Fuhr _ as Sterling News Services This isnot the way the script was written, Oh, Canadians were favored to strike gold at the Winter Olympic Games in Albertville, France But on the ski slopes? No, it was three-time world figure skating champion Kurt Browning who was scheduled to lead the cele- brations. It's a good thing no one told Kerrin Lee-Gartner not to attend the festivities. Saturday, the 25-year-old for- mer Rosslander plummeted down the steep Iron Rock course at Meribel in one minute, 52.55 sec- onds to capture Canada’s first Olympic gold medal for 1992. “It was all or nothing,” said Lee-Gartner, following in the footsteps of Kathy Kreiner and Nancy Greene-Raine as two of the previous three skiers to win Olympic alpine gold. “I always believed in myself — I guess this shows I had reason to.” But parents Jane and Terry, a CASTLEGAR TS CARDS Collectors Items Supplies Sports Magazine New Selection of Posters We buy & Trade Now On * Blow Out Specials - (While stocks last) Located in Castleaird Plaza 365-7556 Cominco project manager, now living in Tsawassen, were not so quick to believe and were over- come with joy upon hearing the good news. “This is beyond our wildest ‘This is beyond wildest dreams’ — JANE LEE Gold medal winner's mom dreams,” said Jane Lee, who must now give up smoking as part of a pledge she promised to fulfill when Kerrin won her first international race. “She was a long shot. I certainly did not have my heart set on a gold medal.” Reaction in the Golden City was equally as surprised, as most were walking on the ceiling after hearing the amazing result. “We're ecstatic,” said former i of the Red M Racers, Robin Valentine. “We're very excited for Ker- rin,” said Tom Johnson, president of the Red Mountain Racers in 1975 when Lee-Gartner was a member of the newly created tal- ent squad. “Everyone in Rossland is real- ly proud of Kerrin ... knowing the Lee family and Kerrin, I'm sure she was skiing for all of Canada as well as herself,” said Rossland Mayor Bill Profili. “The fact that she is from Rossland and is the first winner of a gold medal (in women's downhill), we're all really pleased. “We just couldn't be happier for her,” adds Profili. “She is such a great person and I think the gold medal came through hard work.” Although Lee-Gartner now resides in Calgary with husb then Kerrin had what it took to be a winner, “I think she had the ability at a very young age,” said Delich, from his home in Femie. “You could see that when she was rac- ing as a youngster. Even at a young age, she was fearless. She had a strong desire to win, that natural athletic ability that drive “From the athletic point of view, she always had a nice touch on the snow.” Delich had the good fortune of coaching Lee-Gartner between 1974-77, when the Red Mountain Racers were blessed with a core group of skiers. Skiers who would form the future of the national ski team. Along with Lee-Gartner, Delich coached Don Stevens, Felix Belzcyk, Derek Trussler and Kerrin’s sister Kellie Lee. And as Delich puts it, winning a gold medal in the women’s Olympic downhill couldn't hap- pen to a nicer “Kerrin is just a super girl ... nice. I've got two young daugh- ters and I just hope they can grow up and be a nice lady like her,” he said. Lee-Gartner, who is waiting out the postponement of today's women’s Super-G, will be flying back to North American later this week to compete in the Canadian Championships at Lake Louise, Alta. After that, who knows what's ahead. But if Profili has his way, Rosslanders will soon salute their new champion in a Civic reception. “I'L be discussing it with council,” said Profili, not for one minute letting an accomplish- ment like this slip past without the ceremonial salute. “I certainly think Rossland will honor Kerrin at her convenience. I’m absolute- Max, her roots remain in Ross- land. That is where her career on the slopes began. Mike Delich was one of Lee-Gartner's early coaches. He remembers back Castlegar Bicycle ALL BIKES & Sport Shop offer See us before you buylll * NORCO © NISHIKI © BRC * BMX « * MONGOOSE ROCKY MOUNTAIN * BRODIE « — We also stock hybrid bikes — WE SERVICE WHAT WE SELL WE REPAIR WHAT OTHERS SELL © 42 YEARS LICENSED MACHINIST e 713 - 13th St., Castlegar Open Mon. - Sat. 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 365-5044 ly certain Rossl: will honor Kerrin in a fitting way when she gets back to Canada and settles down and gets some spare time.” While the entire country is proud of Lee-Gartner's gold- medal performance, Delich believes this title will carry a greater significance for skiing Especially in the Kootenays. “T think it’s good for all the ski racers in the Kootenays,” said Delich, happy with the fact that Lee-Gartner achieved her great- est reward in Europe and on the “the most challenging downhill ever run.” “That's a legacy that’s around now. Another racer from the Kootenays (has risen to the top). The Kootenays have snow in the mountains and youngsters in the Kootenays have a great opportu- nity to do well. If they have the desire (they can win on the world stage).” What better role model to learn from than Kerrin Lee-Gartner. SKATIDS 1, sory sine ear Kerrin, Congratulations, What a thing you have given to Rossland, to The Home of Champions, and to the rest of Canada. We are just winding down after a jubilant session in the Rafter's Lounge, having watched—again and again and again—your gold medal i . all feeling as To a person, we are busting at the seams, Michel is watching, and I think of the time he has put in over the years, working on communica- tions and timing systems for the various downhill races. He says he has had tears in his eyes all day. And Ron is still here, telling anyone who will listen how he used to give you Smarties when you had a good day of training with the RMR’s, Jill tells me that her touring skis are an old pair of your first downhills skis and that your name tion to skiing, or because you hap- Pened to be the fastest in the world this day, but because it couldn't happen to a nicer person. There is a long list of Red Mountain Racers behind you who have carried the torch for Our little comer of the world, and everyone of them is the kind of person who in similiar circumstances would unselfishly allow us to think—as you have a huge cheer goes up (almost as big as the cheers for you). One way or another, you are ours today. Yes, we know full-well that it was you and you alone who ripped up that course. But something to do with the magnitude of Olympic gold transcends your individual achievement. It must, or why are we on teh today—that their victory was our victory. So thankyou Kerrin, for allowing us to share yours, but more importantly, for showing us what it is to win graciously. From the gang at Red Mountain P.s. Say Hito Max...seems like a great guy. The Castlegar Rebels ended their regular season with a pair of weekend losses. On Friday, the Grand Forks B T Bruins beat the Rebels 5-3 at the community complex. It was the first time the tcams had met since February 9, where Castlegar recorded their first victory over Grand Forks this season. The final game of the season was on the road against the Beaver Valley Nite Hawks. A rash of penalties killed Castlegar as they blew an early lead and ended up losing 7-6. Dustin Rilcoff, Derek Lalonde, Kevin Nisse, Chris Sannutti, Derek Kazakoff, and Shane Cut- ler scored goals in the Rebels sea- son finale Castlegar finished the season with only 12 wins in 36 games. Only the Elk Valley Raiders, with 10 wins, had fewér. The Rebels had the warse offense in the league as they averaged 4.3 goals per game, for a total of 162 That's 24 fewer than the Raiders and 113 less than the Spokane Braves’ 275 [7.2 ave] Defensively Castlegar fared a little better as their 5.7 goals against average ranked fifth in the league. Opponents scored 217 goals on the Rebels. The best defense in the league, without question, belongs to Castlegar’s play-off opponents, the Nelson Maple Leafs. The Leafs, who have gone 20 PeeWee teams do battle JOE HALL Minor hockey correspondent Castlegar’s PeeWee House Division teams one and two faced off for an exhibition game at the S. Castlegar Minor ent I received hat many busine I tournament a succe trophies United Buy & Sell Furniture