The 2005 Western Canadian Juvenile Ski Championships have wrapped-up at Mount Sima, and by everyone's account Whitehorse's first major skiing event was a huge success.

'The race organizing committee did a fantastic job,' said Yukon coach Dick Eastmure. 'There were very few problems and the ones that were, were very minor. The weather could have been a bit better, but ... the hill was very popular with our visiting teams.

'I think we showcased the facility as well as we could, really.'

The crew from Juneau's Eagle Crest Mountain said while they host eight to ten races a year and travel to many more, the Whitehorse event was the best run race, with the friendliest people.

'It's the best race course we've been on all year,' stated Tom Nave, parent of one of the athletes and president of the Juneau ski club.

Nave said the whole week was a fabulous experience for the Alaskan team, which consisted of two competitors, a front runner, and a few parents acting as coaching staff.

He said they were hoping to establish a closer relationship with the Yukon team, so they could get the locals to attend American races next season.

Eastmure said they've certainly talked about it, but it would be a little more difficult to get there in the winter now that there are not regular flights to the Alaska capital.

'It'd be great if they built a road down there,' he laughed, adding they've discussed the opportunity to compete at at least one championship in Juneau in the past.

'It's just a matter of either trying to fit it in with our B.C. points races throughout the season, or maybe forgoing some of the races in B.C. and going to Juneau instead.'

The races in Juneau wouldn't be included in the Canadian points-based system either, pointed out Eastmure. And the points are important for seeding and comparing how well you're doing against other Canadian kids in your age group.

So while the Yukon team's plans for future Juneau trips are up in the air, Nave said the Alaskans would have no problem returning here next season.

He'd also like to make the trip for the 2007 Canada Games, although they wouldn't be able to compete of course.

'We've had so much fun here. The kids are having a ball. If the Yukon will invite us next year, we'll come race here and bring some more kids.'

This time around, Alaska didn't bring a full team because their better racers, as well as the head coaches, are currently competing at the junior Olympics in the Lower 48.

'It's (Westerns) a great opportunity for these guys though,' said Nave. 'They're probably having a better racing experience than the kids down south are.'

Nave said he was surprised somewhat to learn that the rules in Canada are nearly indentical to the American alpine rules. And the differences they do have, he said, the Alaskans liked more.

Throughout the three events Super G, Giant Slalom and Slalom the two Alaska athletes finished in the middle of the pack, which they were pleased with. Nave said the competition at Westerns was very tough.

'They're (the Canadian competitors) as good as there is in their age group,' he said. 'I think they'd be really competitive anywhere.'

Eastmure said the Canadian alpine program as a whole is very strong right now, and is only going to get stronger.

While the kids at the juvenile Westerns are a long way from competing at the Olympics, he said there are some that should have been competing at nationals this year such as Whistler, B.C.'s Benjamin MacLean, who won both the Super G and Slalom for the men.

MacLean missed out on nationals because he didn't post enough finishes throughout the season.

Both B.C. and Alberta did very well at the championships this week, as expected.

The B.C. crew was somewhat hampered on the second day of racing, when seven members of their team missed the Giant Slalom due to the flu, and a few others raced under the weather.

They were all back in the lineup for Tuesday's Slalom, and took the top five spots in the men's race. Alberta dominated the women's competition.

Only two of the four Yukon men competing in the championships finished both their runs on the course Tuesday.

Alex Peepre was 25th with a combined time of 1:39.29 while Derek Wilson was 31st with a time of 1:56.69.

Here are the top 15 results for both the men's and women's events, with the overall time from both slalom runs listed:

Men's Slalom

1. Benjamin MacLean, B.C., 1:23.15

2. Daniel Newmarch, B.C., 1:23.24

3. Alexander Binks, B.C., 1:25.23

4. Ian Deans, B.C., 1:28.40

5. Jasper Smith, B.C., 1:28.61

6. Blake Bentt, Alta., 1:28.77

7. Jake Muffly, B.C., 1:28.85

8. Daniel Kent, Alta., 1:29.23

9. Kyle Spence, B.C., 1:29.24

10. Kristian Mair, Alta., 1:29.46

11. York Myers, Alta., 1:30.69

12. Sebastian Riedl, Alta., 1:31.96

13. Brendon Jones, Alta., 1:32.40

14. Douglas Kermack, Alta., 1:32.68

15. Logan Young, Alta., 1:33.01

Women's Slalom

1. Roslyn Van Patter, Alta., 1:28.59

2. Emma Carroll, Alta., 1:30.21

3. Amara McLaughlin, Alta., 1:30.86

4. Brittney Jones, B.C., 1:31.48

5. Rachelle Morris, B.C., 1:31.98

6. Jaqueline Hurlbert, Alta., 1:32.83

7. Chloe Burandt, Alta., 1:33.11

8. Victoria Standish, Alta., 1:33.43

9. Sarah Morris, B.C., 1:33.55

10. Sydney Bunting, Alta., 1:33.81

11. Mckenzie Todd, Alta., 1:34.49

12. Karly Harker, Alta., 1:35.08

13. Chanelle Segal, B.C., 1:35.76

14. Krista Putnam, Alta., 1:36.50

15. Joanne Sadler, Alta., 1;36.59