March 18, 2008 (Callaghan Valley, B.C.) – Callaghan Valley, the Nordic venue for the Vancouver-Whistler 2010 Olympics, hosted its first ever national event as large wet snowflakes carpeted challenging climbs, making for even more challenging waxing in the short distance classic races that kicked off the 2008 Canadian XC Championships.
Hundreds of skiers showed up to this valley within the Coast Mountain Range – not just from Canada – but many American teams and Scandinavian skiers as well to familiarize themselves with ski trails that will be used for the World Cup XC races here in January 2009, and for the upcoming 2010 Olympics.
Open and Junior Men’s 10km Classic
Canmore Nordic’s Stephan Kuhn took the gold in the Open Men’s 10km Classic in 27:31, with newly minted Canadian, Ivan Babikov, taking the silver 24.3 seconds back. Rossland’s George Grey scooped the bronze, 31.6 seconds back while Alaskan Lars Flora placed fourth, and veteran racer Robin McKeever placed fifth at 45.3 seconds back.
For Babikov, who emigrated to Canada from 2005, it was just the second time he has raced as a Canadian. He received his Canadian citizenship days before the Alberta World Cup in Canmore so he was registered as a Russian skier there. Babikov skis for team xc.com and said waxing conditions made it tough. “We used klister,†he said, “but it was hard. Everyone had to struggle. Whoever got the right skis for the this weather won the race,†said Babikov, referring to fellow Canmore skier Stephan Kuhn.
The top junior skier was Frederic Touchette of Quebec’s Club Nordique M.S.A., with a time of 29:30:3 which put him 24th overall. David Greer of Whitehorse Cross Country took the silver just 0.4 of a second behind in 25th place. The bronze medal went to Graeme Killick of the Banff Ski Runners, 14 seconds behind Touchette, and in 26th overall. Fourth junior man and 33th overall, was Curtis Merry of Foothills Nordic, at 34 seconds, while Julien Nury of Skibec took 5th at 38 seconds behind Touchette.
Open and Junior Women 5 km Classic
Alaska’s Kikkan Randall dominated the field with a time of 14:57 a total of 48 seconds ahead of Canmore’s Chandra Crawford. Vermont racer Liz Stephen took the bronze, 55.1 seconds back while Sun Valley’s Morgan Arritola placed fourth, 56.2 seconds back. Canmore’s Sarah Renner took fifth spot at 56.6 seconds, as the championships wrap up her first season back after having a baby. It was a tight finish for third, fourth and fifth with only 1.5 seconds separating the skiers
USA’s Randall from Alaska said even though she had the fastest time, she didn’t have luck with her wax. “I didn’t have any kick in the tracks. I moved out of the tracks for kick. In the end I ran up the uphills and tucked on the downhills.†She liked the course, commenting that with new snow it would be perfect. “There’s a really nice flow to the course. It’s going to be a fun place to ski.†Although, Canada, she added, is always fun. “After spending the whole winter in Europe, Canada feels cozy. It’s like a hometown crowd here.â€
American skiers took the top three spots in the Junior Women’s event with Parker Tyler of Stratton Mountain School grabbing gold in 16:59, and 20th overall. Kate Dolan from the Bridger Ski Foundation took the silver, 26 seconds behind Tyler, placing 31st overall. The bronze went Lucy Le Garrec of Burke Mountain Academy, who finished 36 seconds back, and 34th overall. Canadian Catherine Auclair took fourth and 36th place overall at 37 seconds back, while Team Hardwood’s Mary Thompson was 5th, at 46 seconds back of Tyler in 37th overall.
Results
Men
1. Stefan Kuhn (Canmore, Alta.) 27:31.1
2. Ivan Babikov, Canmore, Alta) 27:55.4
3. George Grey (Rossland, B.C) 28:02.7
4. Lars Flora (USA) 28:15.7
5. Robin McKeever (Canmore, Alta.)
Women
1. Kikkan Randall (USA) 14:57.5
2. Chandra Crawford (Canmore, Alta) 15:45.4
3. Liz Stephen (USA) 15:52.6
4. Morgan Arritola (USA) 15:53.7
5. Sara Renner (Canmore, Alta) 15:54.1.
Top Para-Nordic Results
Sit-Ski Men
1. Chris Klebl (USA) 18:25.5
2. Lou Gibson (Langley, B.C) 20:03.9
Sit-Ski Women
1. Colette Bourgonje (Saskatoon) 19:41.2
2. Christy Campbell (Ottawa) 33:27.6
Standing Men
1. Yoshihiro Nitta (Japan) 17:07.6
2. Mark Arendz (Springton, P.E.I.) 18:55.5
3. Tyler Mosher (Whistler, B.C.) 19:15.4.
Standing Women
1. Robbie Weldon (Thunder Bay, Ont.) 21:07.9
2. Jody Barber (Smithers, B.C.) 21:47.3
3. Shoko Ota (Japan) 22:20.1
For complete results visit www.zone4.ca