March 19, 2008 (Callaghan Valley, B.C.) – Before the racing even started on Day 3 at the 2008 Haywood XC Ski Nationals, ten centimeters of snow had already accumulated so despite best grooming techniques racers were hit with extremely difficult conditions with precipitation that made even seeing the trail difficult. Climbs had snow accumulation while descents were down to pure ice.

But the American team seemed to figure it all out as once again they dominated the Canadians placing four skiers in the top ten. Liz Stephen of Montpelier, Vermont had the fastest time in 26:19. Teammate Kikkan Randall, skiing for Alaska Pacific University placed second, 22 seconds back, while Sara Renner, racing for Canmore Nordic scooped the third place, and the gold medal as only Canadians qualified for medals, 38.4 seconds back.

Canadian Dasha Gaiazova, racing on the Skielite Team placed fourth 1:02 minutes back, and took the silver medal. U.S. Ski Team members Morgan Arritola and Tazlina Mannix took fifth and sixth, 1:04 minutes and 1:26 minutes back. Brook Gosling was the third Canadian, winning the bronze, 1:45 minutes behind.

Stephen’s win was particularly sweet for her as, at twenty-one years of age she has only raced two World Cup races and spent this season on the North American circuit. “It’s super for us to come to Canada and race with all of these girls. They’re great to be with so we can mix it up in the race.”

It’s the perfect pre-ski for the Olympics says Stephen. “We’re making it feel like these are our own trails. I am hoping to be here for 2010.”

The American team paid tribute to their wax technicians for figuring out how to wax in such diverse conditions, with good skies for two days of extremely different conditions. Randall had a particularly difficult challenge when her skis disappeared just as she was preparing to go to the start line, though a quick switch to another pair of skis didn’t seem to mar her results. “I turned around and I couldn’t find my skis. They are very valuable and there were people going every direction so someone must have picked them up by mistake.” Still she said it was “an interesting day” with the snow on the course presenting plenty of challenges.

Canada’s Renner said skiers had to have “an amphibious mindset” to get through the precipitation and trails. “It’s really different from a lot of World Cup sites. The weather here is like no other.”

Despite the environmental challenges and the long comeback season after giving birth last year, Renner says this race in this place is important. “It’s good to get the feel of coming to Whistler. There’s an Olympic spirit already started here.”

More photos here.

Results
1. Liz Stephen (USA) 26:19.3
2. Kikkan Randall (USA) 26:41.3
3. Sara Renner (Can, Canmore, Atla.) 26:57.7
4. Dasha Gaiazova (Can, Montreal) 27:21.3
5. Morgan Arritola (USA) 27:23.5.

For complete results visit www.zone4.ca