In what might be among the more bizarre provincial banner presentations, Oak Bay High ski and snowboard athletes learned they were the best in B.C. during a dusty roadside stop on the bus ride home.

After days of competition on the slopes at Mount Washington, the team needed to meet a busing schedule, so headed out before the awards presentation Feb. 26, leaving behind a small delegation to pick up their medal haul.

The roadside presentation is among the highlights for Grade 12 student Calum Parker as he finishes his fourth year on the team.

ParkerB次元官网网址檚 dad was among those who stayed behind on the mountain. They managed to catch up ahead of landing back in Greater Victoria. First, they got out of the car and showcased a handful of medals.

Yoyo Deng won the boys skiing silver in both giant slalom and terrain events.

B次元官网网址淲e trained a lot and did a lot of hard work,B次元官网网址� said Deng, specifically mentioning their commitment to dryland training each Friday before school.

Dallas Batty B次元官网网址� the only girl to qualify for and attend provincials in each of her four years on the team B次元官网网址� won the silver in the girls snowboard giant slalom.

The boys ski team finished third with the girls ski team in fourth. The girls snowboard team won second, boys snowboard third and the combined boys and girls snowboard team finished in second place.

Then they pulled out the provincial banner for girls and boys ski B次元官网网址� which the athletes didnB次元官网网址檛 know theyB次元官网网址檇 won.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e all so proud to be the first team to bring this provincial banner home to Oak Bay, itB次元官网网址檚 a great way to end,B次元官网网址� said Cagleigh LeBlanc, noting the abundance of graduating students on the team B次元官网网址� about half.

For Kate Boyd, meeting new people she might not have otherwise in a school of hundreds stands out in her final season with the Oak Bay High team of athletes from grades 9 through 12.

B次元官网网址淲hat I liked about this season so far is the whole group came together in the end. It was people I would not talk to normally on the team,B次元官网网址� the Grade 12 student said.

That building of relationships, between athletes, coaches and even chaperons, is a theme among the team captains.

B次元官网网址淭hose have been arguably some of my favourite experiences of high school,B次元官网网址� LeBlanc said.

The leadership team also credited coach Tina Horwood who has B次元官网网址渄evoted hours and years of her life into this team.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭his whole team couldnB次元官网网址檛 have been done without Tina,B次元官网网址� Julian Longe said, noting chaperones, coaches and parents are all key contributors to the team.

B次元官网网址淲ithout her dedication, organization and passion, our athletes would not have this incredible opportunity,B次元官网网址� the captains said in a post on social media.

The kids were pretty easy to spot on the slopes, and maybe even those long road trips to the mountain, with a Kia sponsorship.

The team received gift cards and use of a car wrapped in their team colours as well as sponsored bibs that dotted Mount Washington with the green and white Oak Bay High colours.

It was just the icing on the bright and early road trips and training, alongside countless hours spent on the slopes, that taught Grade 12 student Longe B次元官网网址渢he true meaning of what a team is.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲hen I think of a team, I think of my experience on the ski team.B次元官网网址�