December 12, 2004 – Beckie Scott hit the start line for the first time since announcing her commitment to racing for Canada through to the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, and picked up exactly where she left off – stepping on top of the podium at the season-opening Haywood Canada Cup event on Thursday.

The Vermilion, Alta. native, who last stepped on top of the podium in June when she was finally awarded her Olympic gold medal in Vancouver, claimed the women’s 10-kilometre skate ski race at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Cup on Silver Star Mountain near Vernon, B.C. in a time of 24 minutes 48.4 seconds.

“It was really exciting to be back on snow in Canada and racing in this country,” said Scott. “It has been an interesting year and I had reservations about expectations, but I am completely refreshed and motivated to be at home. I’ll never take racing on home snow for granted again and I look forward to the rest of the weekend.”

Competing on a reduced schedule for the pre-Olympic season, Scott has been training in Bend, Ore. with personal coach, Torbjorn Karlsen and husband, Justin Wadsworth, in preparation for the World Cup schedule, which faces the veteran of the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team in January and the 2005 World Championships in Germany.
Joining Scott on the podium in the women’s event was 11-year veteran of the national squad, Milaine Theriault of St. Quentin, N.B., who completed the track with a time of 26:07.5, while Tasha Betcherman of Thunder Bay, Ont. rounded out the top three after posting a time of 27:01.2.

Meanwhile, Chris Jeffries of Chelsea, Que. led the pack of Canadian men around the 15-kilometre track on Silver Star Mountain. The 26-year-old powered his way to the finish in a time of 34:58.8. “It was a great race today and extremely tight for four laps when I found the power to bust loose,” said Jeffries, who added it was difficult conditions throughout the day. “I have been getting increasingly stronger in training every day since June and feeling better and more comfortable on my skis than ever before. It is an awesome start to the season.”

Jeffries will be heading to the World Cup with Scott following the holiday season. The men’s event was a race to the wire. Close on Jeffries heels was Devon Kershaw of Sudbury, Ont., who claimed the silver with a time of 35:47.5. Two Red Deer, Alta. athletes shared the final spot on the podium. Drew Goldsack and Kit Richmond posted equal times at 36:08.3.