It was a great day despite cold temperatures for the third annual Tears and Gears Winter Wheezer. Clear blue skies brought out snowshoe and cross country ski enthusiasts to the new course at the Elk Valley Nordic centre and Mount Fernie Provincial Park on Saturday, February 8.
“The cold deterred a few I'm sure, but the new course was a great change, with lots of wheezin' on both the snowshoe and the ski,” said Abi Moore, Tears and Gears race organizer.
As a team or solo, adults completed the 8.25 km snowshoe run and seven km cross-country ski in both classic and skate categories.
Leslie Prentice and Kim Shopland won the Women's Team Skate and had the fastest overall time of 1:19:23.
Team Morgan, with Liam and Brendan Morgan, won the Men's Team Skate with a time of 1:26:23.
Maelle Weber and Talon Vale made up team Shrek and Donkey in the mixed age 13-14 years category finishing the five km snowshoe and 3.5 km Nordic ski course in 1:10:20.
“Lots of the usual locals kindly came back to show their support and dominate,” said Abi Moore. “A few newbies, which was great to see and a few people from out of town too, which was great they made the trip.”
For complete race results, go to www.fernietearsandgears.com.