Submitted
For the first time ever, the Kimberley Nordic Club played host to Nordiq Canada’s Western Canadian Cross Country Skiing Championships. Over 400 athletes from across Western Canada showed up for three days of racing, Feb 3-5, 2023. Two techniques and three formats were used during the event, allowing athletes to push their limits in sprints and longer distance events.
Friday showcased an interval start format of freestyle (skate skiing) technique, where racers chased the clock over varying distances. Athletes were grouped by their age and raced a distance suitable to their physical development. Final results weren’t known until every competitor had crossed the finish line and the times revealed who was quickest around the course. Fernie Nordic athletes saw many top 10 finishes on the first day of racing including some podium-worthy success.
Saturday was a big day of sprint racing for all the athletes, again using freestyle technique. The morning had racers complete a qualifier-round which then set the stage for the afternoon heats. While older competitors had knockout rounds of quarter-finals (top 30), semi-finals (top 12) and finals (top 6), the younger athletes faced off in a Kings Court ladder format that allowed all racers to have three rounds of sprints against similar abilities, before determining who would end up on the podium. The highlight of the day was the obstacle course event that saw children under ten years of age, race up and down bumps and berms before crossing the finish line. Some spills and lots of thrills had the spectators cheering loudly for the cutest competitors of the day.
The final event of the weekend, had the nordic skiers racing in classic technique in mass starts over longer distances. Lined up with dozens of other same-aged competitors, the Fernie Nordic athletes had to find their space off the start, and then push themselves around their course with the first across the finish ending up as the winner. There were some very exciting and close finishes. Distances ranged between one and eleven kilometres, from U10 to Masters categories. Colder snow conditions changed over the course of the day, forcing the wax team to change the formula in the grip zone to give athletes their best chance for both grip and glide. Kimberley’s hilly trails challenged the skiers to work at both their uphill and downhill skills, while giving their best effort throughout. Again, Fernie Nordic Racers saw success in many races, with top 10 results and success at the podium level.
Some athletes take a competitive approach to their training and racing, while others are into the fitness and fun side of the sport. All abilities are welcomed at these types of races, and the nordic community rallies behind all those who step up to the start line. Fernie Nordic Racers had fourteen athletes ranging from 9-17 years of age, competing over the three days of racing. Some brave parents, as well as the coaching team stepped up to race at the distance events. Pristine conditions allowed athletes to showcase their talents, and the wax team worked their magic over long hours to give the racers the best experience possible. The organizers of the event and all the volunteers are to be commended for hosting a top quality event. Having such high-level racing here in the East Kootenay region was wonderful for the athletes and allowed the sport to be showcased to the broader community. Kudos to the Fernie Nordic Race team coaches and wax team for all their efforts and to the parents for helping their athletes reach their own potential.
Next stop on the circuit is mid-February in Revelstoke where some Fernie Nordic athletes will attend the next round of the BC Cup series of racing and face off against the best in the province.