After months of dryland and on-snow training, the veterans of the Fernie Nordic Racers travelled to West Kelowna to compete in the 2023 BC Cross-Country Ski Championships. Three days of competition were hosted by Telemark Nordic Club. Supported by Head Coach Johnny Shaw, Assistant Coach Kate Woods, and Head Wax Technician Dave Fuller, the five athletes were ready to compete alongside over 500 fellow skiers from across the province. A contingent of skiers from the Northern Cascades of Washington State also joined the event.
Located on a plateau southwest of West Kelowna, the nordic facility has an extensive trail network offering punchy climbs and winding descents. The competitors from Fernie spent Thursday afternoon becoming acquainted with their race courses, while battling blizzard-like conditions. By Friday morning, the wind had settled and mostly overcast skies made for predictable snow and easy waxing. The first day of the championships was a distance freestyle (skate) technique mass start event for all athletes. Both Noah Glickman and Ella Fuller competed in the 3.75k U14 categories while Cameron Etue raced twice around a 2.5k course in the U16 division. Wes Robinson-Shaw and Louison Dubief covered the 3.75k course twice to complete a total of 7.5k before crossing the finish line in their U18 races. Similarly, Coach Kate, and Wax Tech Dave joined their respective age-categories while pushing their limits over the same 7.5k distance. It was a exceptional day of racing for all the Fernie athletes with best-ever performances by everyone on the team. All found themselves amongst the top eight in the province, with most finding themselves in the top three. For a small team, there was plenty to be proud of after day one of the championships.
Saturday was a similar weather day up at the Telemark Nordic facility. For the distance classic technique events all the Fernie athletes raced around a 5km course. Interval starts were the order of the day and athletes were released in 15 second gaps. The course looped through a mixed forest of deciduous and evergreens with steep short climbs followed by short turning descents. Elevation was generally gained up to the halfway point of the course. Then a longer descent allowed weary bodies to tuck and rest before the last kilometre of the course. A final hill climb pushed athletes and their ski wax pockets to the limits before a quick descent and the final (seemingly endless) push to the finish. Classic technique may seem like the easier of the two disciplines, but in fact, most cross-country ski racers would agree that the finesse required to get decent grip while ensuring that your glide isn’t compromised is a delicate balance. Ideal snow conditions, maintaining technique despite fatigue, and selecting the right wax and set of skis for the race distance all make for a winning combination. The balance can easily be tipped and the science of the sport becomes very apparent on classic technique race days. Once again, Fernie made their mark on the podium on the second day of competition.
For the provincial season finale, Sunday’s main event was the always fun team relays. Fernie had three official teams competing in the 3x3.3km freestyle event: The Skidom Convoy, made up of Wes, Cameron and Noah, raced in the U20 Mens category. Despite a broken pole on the first leg of the relay, the team managed a top ten finish. The Wax Murderers made up of Super-Dads Dave, Markus Glickman, and Johnny duked it out in the Open Men’s race while the Ski Buns made up of Louison, Kate and Ella took the win in the Open Women’s race. Costumes and glitter added to the fun, and the crowd of supporters were rewarded with a great final day of racing.
This concludes the competitions for most of the Fernie Nordic Racers. Our two most senior skiers are off to National Championships in Thunder Bay, Ontario to compete March 11-17, 2023 in a variety of race formats and distances to wrap up their season. Athletes from across the country will converge to crown the champions in the sport of cross-country skiing. Whatever the results, the experience alone will provide huge learning and growth opportunities for our Fernie athletes. Good luck to Wes and Louison!