Revelstoke Nordic skiing youth compete in world events

By Matthew Smider/Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club

U.S. Nationals in Utah, January 7–10

From Jan. 3–11, four Revelstoke Nordic skiers joined members of the B.C. Ski Team for the US Cross Country Ski Championships being held at Soldier Hollow Nordic Centre in Utah.

Local 16 year olds Alana Brittin, Elizabeth Elliott, and Kate and Beth Granstrom travelled to Utah, along with Revelstoke Nordic coaches Bruce Granstrom and Matt Smider.

Soldier Hollow, which played host to the 2002 Winter Olympic events, was the venue for both the Canadian and US World Junior Championship Selection Trials and it will be the site of the 2017 World Junior Championships.

17 B.C. Ski Team athletes and five support staff arrived on-site four days in advance to acclimatize to the altitude and familiarize themselves with the race courses.

The event got underway on Saturday, Jan. 7 under clear and cool skies with a 10km Interval Start Free technique race. Beth Granstrom posted the top result in the U18 category in 13th position and eighth U20 Canadian. Elizabeth followed close behind as 23rd U18, Kate placed 39th and Alana was 55th.

On Sunday, athletes arose to a mixture of rain and snow with temperatures hovering around 0 degree Celsius making for extremely challenging grip waxing conditions.

A 1.4km Classic Sprint race was contested with Alana leading the way for Revelstoke athletes through the qualifier, placing eighth U18 and fifth U20 Canadian. Beth qualified as 12th fastest U18, Kate placed 31st and Elizabeth 32nd.

Both Alana and Beth notched times in the top 30 out of all U20 Women (over 150 participants) to earn themselves a place racing in the head-to-head heats where they were eliminated after challenging quarter final races.

The final day of racing was a 7.5km Classic Mass Start event with over 150 participants lined up in the start chevron on a similarly blustery day. As a younger skier with low seeding points, Kate Granstrom began at the back of the starting grid in 149th. Not one to be discouraged by a distant start position, Kate put forth an incredible performance to lead the Revelstoke contingent, passing 139 skiers and placing 10th U20, second U18 and fifth U20 Canadian.

Beth crossed the finish line as the sixth U18, Alana was 12th and Elizabeth finished in 41st. 

While reflecting on the races, Alana remarked about how inspiring it was to compete at the site of the 2002 Olympics where Beckie Scott had won her gold medal (Canada’s first-ever in cross-country skiing).

Both Kate and Alana agreed that the mass start was their favourite event due to the sheer number of competitive skiers and the tactical nature of continually pushing past athletes.

Finally, our local athletes were appreciative of the opportunity to race at such a high-calibre event exposing them to a level of competition they had not seen on the domestic race circuit.

Our Revelstoke skiers will now prepare for this week’s upcoming Western Championships in Whistler. Looking further along the race calendar, Alana, Beth and Elizabeth have been selected to compete as representative of the B.C. Ski Team in Switzerland and Germany during the month of February. Lots of great racing opportunities still ahead!

Western Championships in Whistler, January 20–22

Eight Revelstoke Nordic skiers travelled to Whistler for the Western Canadian Championships held last Friday through Sunday.

Callaghan Valley, site of the 2010 Olympic Nordic events, played host to more than 600 skiers. All western provinces and territories were represented, and top level skiers from Ontario and Quebec journeyed cross-country as the races are included in the six race, season-long NorAm series.

Weather transitioned to and from clear skies and snowfall; making for tricky waxing conditions, but a welcome departure from the previously forecasted rain. 

Friday’s event was a freestyle sprint event contested on a 750m course for Midget athletes; 1km for Juvenile and Juniors and 1.2km for Junior and Open Women.

Elizabeth Elliott led the way for Revelstoke with superb climbing technique allowing her to claim a second place finish in the Junior Girls A-final, followed closely by teammate Alana Brittin in fifth. Jaclyn Elliott also raced to a fifth place in the Midget Girls A-final. Beth Granstrom qualified 14th, yet a lingering sickness kept her out of the head-to-head heat racing.

A recent returnee to the Revelstoke Nordic scene, Tayla Koerber placed 18th in the Open Women Category and seventh out of Junior Women. Juvenile skiers Kolibri Drobish, Erik Brosch and Rebecca Brosch raced to 23rd, 29th and 28th respectively. 

On Saturday, skiers completed a distance classic interval start race with 4kms for Midgets; 7.5km for Juvenile and Juniors and 10km for Junior and Open Women.

Feeling recovered from her sickness, Beth Granstrom charged around a strong final lap to finish first in the Junior Girls. Leader after the first lap, Alana was a mere 15 seconds behind at the finish in third position and Elizabeth skied to an eighth place.

Jaclyn secured another fifth position in the Midget Girls event. Kolibri skied to an impressive 11th in the Juvenile Girls, with Rebecca placing 33rd and Erik finishing a strong 14th in the Juvenile Boys category. Tayla completed her 10km event as 24th Open and 10th Junior Women.

Finally, Revelstoke skiers welcomed a familiar face to the start line as Emily Suchy put her skis and sled back on snow and poled her way to a second place in the Para Nordic Sit category. 

Sunday’s event was a unique opportunity for athletes as the competed a division relay mixed with other skiers from around the province.

Elizabeth’s Junior Girls team led a B.C. podium sweep in first, with Beth’s team second. Alana’s team would have completed the sweep, however an unfortunate off-course maneuver by her teammate resulted in their disqualification. Jaclyn’s Midget Girls team claimed second position, while Kolibri and Erik both helped their teams finish fifth and Rebecca’s team crossed the line in 12th position. 

Revelstoke skiers will now have a week to relax and focus on their studies before next weekend’s B.C. Cup in Prince George.