Six now off to Olympics

Photo: CTV

Half a dozen athletes from the Okanagan are heading to South Korea next month for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Summerland bobsled driver Justin Kripps was the sixth athlete from the region named to the team Wednesday.

He joins Andrew Ebbett of Vernon (hockey), Julie Ransom from Kelowna and Emma Lunder of Vernon (biathlon), Kelsey Serwa from Kelowna (ski cross) and Andi Naude of Penticton (moguls).

Kripps, 31, is a strong medal hopeful in both the two and four-man bobsled event.

He won the overall World Cup two-man title over the weekend with a third place finish in Germany. Over the eight race season, Kripps finished first once, second three times and third once.

Kripps was fourth on the World Cup circuit in the four-man, earning a pair of second place finishes over the eight-race season.

The two-man bobsled event is scheduled for Feb.18 and 19, with the four-man Feb. 24 and 25.

The Winter Olympics begin Feb. 9 in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Snowboard cross racers Kevin Hill of Vernon and Tess Critchlow of Kelowna are also expected to be named to the Olympic team.