The Nelson Nordic Club racers had a fantastic weekend of great performances at the Kootenay Cup Nordic ski races in Kimberley, January 14 to 15.
This event involved an exciting prologue skate ski race followed by thrilling sprint ski races on Saturday. In these races, skiers went head to head around a short hilly course that tested both speed and skiing ability and had many photo finishes. On Sunday, the young athletes competed in a classic distance race that ranged from one to five kilometres.
In the skate technique sprint prologue, the Nelson team cheered on as Felix Barron placed first and Sabien Edney was third in atoms. In peewee boys, Quinn Barron placed first, with Kieran Marchand fourth, Oliver McDougall-Eisele sixth and Reece Boulanger seventh. In peewee girls, Anna Milde was fifth, Sophie Edney was eighth, Sonje Boyd was ninth and Ruby Creighton was thirteenth. In midget girls Kluane Peabody was seventh, in juvenile girls Arianna Murphy-Steed was third and in juvenile boys, Galen Boulanger was first and Stuart Milde third.
The races resumed later that day with a series of gruelling elimination sprints at night. Skating in the dark added a whole new element to the races but the Nelson team brought home the hardware. In atoms, Felix Barron placed first and Sabien Edney was a close second. In pewee boys, Quinn Barron placed first, with Kieran Marchand fourth, Oliver McDougall-Eisele was sixth and Reece Boulanger was eighth. In Peewee girls, Anna Milde third, Sonje Boyd sixth, Sophie Edney was ninth and Ruby Creighton as 11th. In Midget girls Kluane Peabody was seventh and in Juvenile girls Arianna Murphy-Steed was third. In juvenile boys, Galen Boulanger was first and Stuart Milde was third.
The following day were classic technique races and Nelson also had a great showing; in atoms, Felix Barron placed first and Sabien Edney placed second. In pewee boys, Quinn Barron placed first, Kieran Marchand placed fourth, Reece Boulanger was fifth and Oliver McDougall-Eisele was eigth. In peewee girls, Sophie Edney was sixth, Anna Milde eleventh, Ruby Creighton was twelveth and Sonje Boyd fourteenth. All of the juvenile competitors qualified for the 2012 BC Winter Games based on their 5 kilometre classic race times including: Arianna Murphy-Steed (third), Galen Boulanger (second) and Stuart Milde (third). This is the first time in about four years that Nelson has sent a team to represent us at the Winter Games. As a result, the whole team wishes to thank coaches Doris Hausleitner, Denise Uhrnyk and Roger Pratt for their deep commitment to volunteerism, travelling with the team, waxing help and dedication to the club.
Next up is the Kootenay Cup in Nelson on February 11. Be sure to catch it. The Nelson Nordic racers hope that with good performances they can retain the coveted Kootenay Cup that is awarded to the Kootenay region ski club that has the best combined performance in all of the Kootenay Cup race series.