Submitted
Revelstoke nordic athletes returned from the recent BC Winter Games with gold, silver, and bronze medals.
The BC Winter Games, held in Vernon March 23–26, were originally supposed to take place in February 2022, however, were cancelled due to COVID-19. Six athletes from Revelstoke earned the right to represent their zone at the games, however one skier, Cedar Jacob was ill and was forced to miss the games. Maya Royle, Fiona Woodman, Lutza Berkenbosch, Tobin Gill and Emilie Paquin were able to attend the games. The nordic ski events took place at Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre.
Friday saw the interval classic start where athletes started on 15 second intervals on a 3.5km course for the 2008’s and a 5km course for the 2007s. The Revelstoke Athletes fared well, with Woodman earning a silver medal on the 3.5-kilometre course (Royle skied to sixth on the same course while Tobin Gill, Lutza Berkenbosch and Emilie Paquin battled to seventh, eighth and 14th spots respectively on the 5-kilometre course).
Saturday was sprint day in the free technique or skate ski discipline Royle, Berkenbosch and Gill all had the fourth fastest qualifying times in their age groups. Paquin skied well into the semifinals finishing the day in 12th place. Gill finished in sixth overall, Berkenbosch brought home a bronze medal for the ‘07 girls and Royle brought home gold in the ‘08 girls and Woodman bronze.
Sunday was fun day where the athletes were put in teams of four (two male, two female) and they would ski either classic technique (two legs) and skate technique (two legs) on a two km course. Gill was the only athlete on an official Zone 2 team coming in seventh while Woodman’s unofficial team found themselves in fourth place overall (first of the unofficial teams) winning the coveted chocolate bar consolation prize, Royle and Berkenbosch’s unofficial team came 10th (second of the unofficial teams) and Paquin’s team came 14th.
The athletes all had a great time hanging out with their ski buddies and making new friends in the zone. They would like to thank all the Zone coaches who volunteered their time to give the athletes the BCWG experience; Head Coach Damian Pighin, Assistant Coach Ann Marie Gill, coaches Kris Markson and Donna Flatman (para nordic coach). They would also like to extend a huge thank you to all the volunteers at BCWG’s and particularly the volunteers at Sovereign Lake Nordic who made their events happen. The next BCWG will be in Feb 2023 in Quesnel.