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Out of retirement and onto the medal podium

It’s been more than 15 years since she last raced competitively, but it’s as if Doris Hausleitner never left.
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Nelson’s Doris Hausleitner (middle) captured three gold and a bronze in this month’s Masters World Cup near Vernon.

It’s been more than 15 years since she last raced competitively, but it’s as if Doris Hausleitner never left.

The Nelson cross-country ski coach took three gold and a bronze at the Masters World Cup at Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre near Vernon this month.

In the weeklong event, Hausleitner, 36, finished first in the 10K and 30K classics, third in the 15K skate, and was part of Canada’s gold-medal finish in the team relay.

She was drawn to the event simply by its proximity — it moves around the world, and won’t return here anytime soon.

“I don’t think it’s going to be in North America for another 10 years, so I was pretty fortunate to have it that close by,” says the Whitehorse native.

However, it was hard to commit the time with a young family — she has two children, ages two and four, so “my husband really had to be on board for it.”

Hausleitner started training last spring and summer, doing road races, and then skied all winter.

“I hadn’t raced in 15-odd years, so it was good to dust off the skis,” she says. “I coach the cross country ski team and have kept active, but it was a good incentive to get fit after having kids. I knew it would be high-calibre competition.”

The event drew 1,200 athletes from around the world, a third of them from Canada and an equal number from the United States. Russia had the third-biggest contingent, with about 100. Other European nations also sent skiers.

Masters races are for ages 30 and up, and the individual events were further divided into five-year age categories. Hausleitner was up against 10 to 15 competitors in each race, ages 35-39.

Ahead of her first event, the 15K skate, she had no idea how she stacked up.

“I was hoping to be in the top half,” she says. “That was my goal. The first race is part of your confidence [building]. When I started out, it was like ‘I shouldn’t be up here.’”

But she was “pleasantly surprised” to earn a bronze, finishing two seconds out of silver in a tight pack.

“It was nice to have one race under my belt to get that confidence back,” she says.

(Her ancient equipment drew some comments at the starting line, however. Although she has some newer skate skis, she raced on a 20-year-old pair.)

She won the 10K classic with a comfortable lead, and in doing so achieved her other goal — qualifying for the women’s 30-39 team relay. Two of her three teammates had national team experience.

Russia got off to a fast start, leaving Canada a minute and a half behind. However, Hausleitner caught up during her five kilometer classic leg.

“So we were ahead by maybe 20 seconds, and then kept gaining 30 seconds on each of the skate legs. We ended up over a minute ahead of the Russian team when we finished.”

Hausleitner capped the competition by handily winning her 30K classic.

The kids on the Nelson Track Attack Nordic ski team she coaches were “thrilled to bits” for her.

“I could practically hear them cheering,” she says, adding with a laugh: “It gives me a bit more credibility. They’re now taking my technique tips to heart.”

Her children, who stayed with her husband and babysitters while she was at the event, are too young to appreciate her accomplishment, but “they love the medals. They’ve been wearing them out in the sandbox.”

Hausleitner figures she may do some more racing locally, but doesn’t anticipate travelling to another Masters World Cup.