March 26, 2013 (Whistler Olympic Park, BC) – Canada’s National Ski Team athletes cranked up the heat at the Haywood Ski Nationals in Whistler B.C. on Tuesday as Daria Gaiazova and Brent McMurtry won gold in the women’s and men’s individual start classic-ski races.

Dasha Gaiazova on her way to gold... © Claudia Van Wijk

Despite difficult waxing conditions, skiers persevered today on a slushy course. Wax techs and coaches scrambled throughout the day to get faster but still grippy skis for their athletes for the first classic race of the week.

Having just returned home from the World Cup Finals on the weekend, the 29-year-old Gaiazova fought off jet lag and fatigue from a long season on the elite circuit to shatter the women’s field with a time of 32:13.4 in the women’s 10-kilometre race.

“The skis were amazing – like insanely good today. Joel (Jacques) absolutely nailed it,” said Gaiazova. “When you have good skis it is easy to give a little extra because you get fired up. The goal was to mentally force myself to go hard and I’m happy I was able to do that.”

Perianne Jones (l) and Dasha Gaiazova at the finish...best buds © Claudia Van Wijk

Warm conditions and heavy snow on the trails forced the nation’s top Nordic skiers to dig a little deeper on Tuesday. Gaiazova was joined on the national podium by World Cup teammate, Perianne Jones of Almonte, Ont., in second spot at 35:39.4. Alysson Marshall, of Salmon Arm, B.C., skied to the bronze medal with a time of 35:46.7.

Japan’s Chisa Obayashi clocked the second fastest time at 25:27.6, but international athletes cannot medal at the national championships.

Meanwhile, Calgary’s Brent McMurtry won the first individual national title of his ski career in the men’s 15-kilometre classic-ski race. McMurtry, who kicked off the national championships by winning gold in the team sprint with Jesse Cockney on the weekend, clocked the time to beat at 41:26.9.

Brent McMurtry at the finish © Claudia Van Wijk

“It was super hard out there. I just tried to ski technically well and stay as relaxed as possible,” said the 26-year-old member of the National Ski Team. “The time gaps were big out there but there were lots of rabbits to chase down. I’m happy with the way I felt. This means a lot to me today.”

Two Whitehorse athletes snagged the final spots on the podium. David Greer finished 44.3 seconds off the leading mark to claim the silver, while Graham Nishikawa crossed the line 53.3 seconds behind McMurtry to lock up the bronze. Rune Malo Odegaard, of the United States, did post the second-fastest time of the day 41:49.7, but is not eligible for the medals.

The U23 Men’s race was won by Knute Johnsgaard of Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club in a time of 43:03. Russel Kennedy of Canmore Nordic won silver in a time of 43:50 and Nakkertok’s Patrick Stewart-Jones took bronze in a time of 44:03.

Junior men's action... © Claudia Van Wijk

In the Junior Men’s category, David Palmer of Black Jack won with a time of 44:24, Matthew Vrielink took silver for the Rock Mountain Racers in a time of 45:12, and Sebastien Dandurand of Canmore Nordic finished in third with a time of 45:42.

Yesterday’s bronze medalist, Anne-Marie Comeau of Mont Ste-Anne, won the Junior Women’s race in a time of 36:36. Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club’s Kendra Murray took the silver in a time of 37:07 and her teammate Dahria Beatty took third in a time of 37:29.

Anne MarieComeau all smiles... © Claudia Van Wijk

Earlier in the day it was Sophie Carrier-Laforte, of Skinouk, who won the junior girls 10-kilometre race with a time of 32:13.4. Arctic Nordic’s Annah Hanthorn took silver with a time of 33:02 and Edmonton Nordic’s Ember Large was third with a time of 33:58.

Thomas Hardy, of Larch Hills Ski Club, won the junior boys 7.5-kilometre start with a time of 20:29.7. Second place went to Ricardo Izquierdo-Bernier of Fondeurs-Laurentides in a time of 20 minutes 57 seconds and Angus Foster of Big Thunder came third with a time of 21 minutes and 2 seconds.

Senior men's podium... © Claudia Van Wijk

In the Juvenile Girls 5km contest Katie Weaver of Hollyburn Ski Club took gold in a time of 15:56. Just behind her was her teammate Annika Richardson in a time of 16:06 and Gabrielle Sarthou rounded out the top three in a time of 16:16.

The Juvenile Boys also skied a 7.5 km course, crowning Caelan Mclean from the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club with a time of 21:40. Ryan Jackson of Team Hardwood came second in a time of 22:32 and Mclean’s teammate Marcus Deuling finished third in a time of 22:37.

In Para-Nordic racing, it was New Brunswick’s Louis Fortin taking the men’s 7.5-kilometre standing category with a time of 33:37.6, while Ottawa’s Margarita Gorbounova clocked-in at 33:27.0 to win the women’s standing race. Chris Klebl, of Canmore, Alta., clocked a time of 29:35.0 to win the men’s 7.5-kilometre sit-ski race. Emily Suchy, of Revelstoke, B.C., won the women’s five-kilometre sit-ski championship after stopping the clock at 20:38.1.

The Haywood Ski Nationals continue on Wednesday with the junior and juvenile sprint races. The elite sprinters will be back in action on Thursday.

For complete results in all race categories, please click HERE.