February 16, 2014 – While the Games are going on at Sochi, the next generation of Canadian athletes are racing a “B” Tour in the Baltic countries. Many of the athletes have continued on from the U23 and World Junior Championships events in Val di Fiemme.

Leading the team is Mike Cavaliere from the Alberta World Cup Academy, with assistant coach, Ontario team coach Pav Sudrich and wax tech Camille Chesky. Day One’s “B” Tour stop was the Latvian National Championships at the Priekuli Ski Centre for interval start classic races.

Sandau.2

Johnsgaard Beattie.2.3

(l-r) Knute Johnsgaard; Pav Sudrich (B Tour assistant coach), and Dahria Beattie © CCC

The top of the results list made it look like the Canadian/Estonian nationals as Dahria Beatty won the Open Women’s category with a commanding 1-1/2 minute advantage on 5km, over Kati Tammjarv from Estonia and then Alysson Marshall. The next 3 positions also went to Canadians, Cendrine Browne, Frédérique Vézina and Anne-Marie Comeau.

Kevin Sandau © CCC

On the men’s side Estonia’s Alvar Alev won the 10km with a 23-second margin over Kevin Sandau. Knute Johnsgaard was 3rd another 26 seconds back. Patrick Stewart-Jones was 6th with Michael Somppi 8th and Raphaël Couturier 9th.  Other Canadians entered were Dominic Moncion-Groulx in 13th, Alexis Turgeon in 22nd and Simon Lapointe in 28th.

Day 2 – Latvian Nationals
Race Day 2 of the Latvian National Championships featured 5 and 10k interval start, skate, distance races in cloudy 0 deg. C. conditions.

Canada won double gold as Alysson Marshall narrowly beat teammate Cendrine Browne in the women’s race and by a large 42-second margin with Anne-Marie Comeau 3rd. Raphaël Couturier beat Knute Johnsgaard for silver in the men’s race.

Canadians had other strong results: men Kevin Sandau, 8th; Dominic Moncion-Groulx, 10th; Alexis Turgeon, 11th; and Patrick Stewart-Jones in 20th. On the women’s side Frédérique Vézina rounded out the Canadian entry in 5th.

The team will now travel to Madona, Latvia for Scandinavian Cup races on Wednesday and Thursday and then finish in Lahti at the World Cup, with several skiers expected to race based on trip performances.

Results

Day 1

Women’s 5km CL Results

Men’s 10km CL Results

Day 2

Results