Races, BC Games Winter Trials Cap off a Month of Training Camps
It’s been an exciting warm-up and start to the season for the local cross-country ski racing enthusiasts!
The Teck Cup race series kicked off this past Sunday and local youth athletes have been training hard while working toward their BC Winter Games qualifying events that will take place over the coming 3 weeks.
Race day performance is all about the training, and in late November, all three Sea to Sky Corridor Nordic clubs sent athletes to provincial talent squad training camps at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre. These talent squads are by invitation only, based on results at provincial, national, and/or international competitions. Biathlon squads included local biathletes Claire Benson, Taje Hansen, and Holden Wilson all Sea to Sky Nordics, and cross country squads included Lily McGowan and Veya Stevens, from Whistler Nordics and Spud Valley Nordics respectively.
“The kids worked extremely hard at dryland training this fall and it was quite exciting for them to get on the snow and train with all of the top racers from across the province in their respective disciplines,” said Dan Wilson, President of Whistler Nordics, a sentiment shared by both Nicholas Pigeon and Sarah McCaw head coaches for the athletes from Coast Corridor United and Sea to Sky Nordics.
This past Sunday, the Talent Squad athletes took part with eight other teammates from the Coast Corridor United team, a training group initiative between the three corridor clubs, and 125 others at Whistler Olympic Park for the first Teck Coast Cup race of the season. The Teck Coast Cup races are for skiers of all levels, ages, and abilities. Each race encourages healthy competition, pushing yourself, and being a part of a vibrant cross-country ski community.
Sunday race day was surprisingly warm and sunny for this time of the year, with a firm and fast skate ski race course that softened slowly through the day. The race started with U-6 kids or those born in 2017 and continued through several age categories and up to Masters who are 20 years of age plus.
The results for local racers were as follows:
U8 Girls Meja Koshul (WN) - 1st
U10-2 Girls Adele Meik( WN) - 6th
U12-2 Girls Ella Koshul - 2nd / Dahlia Fortier (CCU) - 3rd
U12-2 Boys Luke McGowan (CCU) - 1st / Teja Stevens (CCU) - 3rd
U14-2 Girls Veya Stevens (CCU) double poled on classic (recovering from a knee injury)
U14-2 Boys Max Murray (CCU) - 4th / Aaron Harder (CCU) - 5th / Reed Murray (CCU) - 7th
U16-1 Girls Lily McGowan (CCU) - 2nd / Claire Benson (CCU) - 4th
U16-1 Boys Holden Wilson (CCU) - 3rd
Masters Women Tobi Henderson (WN) - 1st
Many of the youth raced as Coast Corridor United (CCU) which is a collaborative effort between the 3 regional clubs to create a performance-focused cohort for U-12 to U-16 aged racers. Skiers from Spud Valley Nordics, Whistler Nordics, and Sea to Sky Nordics, have joined forces to develop the program with coaches, and technical direction under the banner of Coast Corridor United, administered by the Whistler Nordics Club.
The next Coast Cup race is on December 30th, and it will take on a more serious tone for the local U-16 cross-country athletes vying for a spot to represent their provincial race zone at the BC Winter Games at the end of February in Quesnel, BC. Talent Squad athletes will have their eyes focused on this event as they train through the holiday period, hoping to get one of two spots in their category.
Getting ready to race. Photo Lesley Trivett
One week following the December 30th Coast Cup, Talent Squad and other regional biathletes born in 2009 and 2010 will have their shot at qualifying for the BC Winter Games, as they race two different formats over the January 6th and 7th weekend.
Bib pick up. Thanks Volunteers.! Photo Lesley Trivett
Plan to come out and watch the action at the Teck Coast Cup #2 on December 30th at Whistler Olympic Park! Volunteers are always needed, if you’d like to join in on the fun and teamwork of bringing these events to life, sign up at here to volunteer for the December 30th race! There are full and half day volunteer slots, you will also be provided with snacks, lunch, hot drinks, and a day pass to Whistler Olympic Park if needed. It's a great way to spend your day!
For more information, please contact:
Whistler Nordics - Adrienne Bouris admin@whistlernordics.com.
