January 09, 2011 (Thunder Bay, ON) – Competing on the domestic circuit as part of a plan to return to the World Cup circuit while their Olympic teammates wrapped up the Tour de Ski, Canada’s George Grey and Perianne Jones found their stride by winning the men’s and women’s skate ski races at the Haywood NorAms in Thunder Bay, Ont. on Sunday.
The 31-year-old Grey, of Rossland, B.C., is starting to discover the shape that helped him capture his lone World Cup medal two years ago in a team sprint with Alex Harvey in Whistler, B.C. The two-time Olympian captured his second victory of the weekend after completing the men’s 15-kilometre skate-ski race with a time of 39 minutes, 21.9 seconds at the Lappe Nordic Ski Centre.
“It was good race and a tough course today so I’m happy,” said Grey, who punched his ticket for a spot on Canada’s World Championship squad this weekend.
“Right now I’m going back to the drawing board. I’m working on my distance and getting my shape again. I have six weeks to go until Worlds so it will be good to get back around the team, and Justin (Wadsworth – head coach), to ramp it up to where I want to be.”
Grey has spent most of his summer and early season rebounding from knee surgery this spring.
“Motivation is tough to find for any athlete, and when you have injuries a dark cloud just follows you because you want to go but you have to be patient,” said Grey. “Everyone this weekend was peaking because it was trials for World Championships. To win twice I know I’m not far off so I’ll keep working hard at it.”
Grey was pressed for the podium by Graham Nishikawa, of Whitehorse, who claimed the silver with a time of 39:27.3, while Michael Somppi, of Thunder Bay, Ont., rounded out the podium in third (39:34.6).
Meanwhile Canada’s Perianne Jones is also patiently making her comeback to the elite international circuit. Jones, of Almonte, Ont., won her second race on North America’s premiere development cross-country ski race series after posting a time of 31:02.7 in the women’s 10-kilometre skate-ski event.
“I felt really good out there and I’ve known all year that I’ve just been feeling a lot better,” said Jones, who said her body felt a little bit up last year pushing the paces with the world’s best on the World Cup circuit. “My body was just really tired last year and it is nice to be building that confidence and racing professionally again here. I have been working hard on my technique and things have been going really well.”
Jones was put to the test this weekend with Daria Gaiazova, of Banff, Alta., who made her return from the World Cup. Gaiazova, who won a World Cup bronze medal in the team sprint earlier this year with Chandra Crawford, won the first two races of the weekend but was pushed to the second spot on the podium Sunday with a time of 31:18.3.
“It was awesome to have Daria here and bring the level of racing up a little,” said Jones. “It was a good reminder for me of how fast things are on the World Cup.”
Calgary’s Brooke Gosling claimed the bronze with a time of 32:27.5.
Full results HERE.
Results (brief)
Open Female
1. Perianne Jones (Nakkertok/NST) 31:02.7
2. Dasha Gaiazova (Rocky Mountain Racers/NST) +15.6
3. Brooke Gosling (Foothills/CXC) 1:24.8
4. Sara Hewitt (Foothills/AWCA) 2:01.7
5. Brittany Webster (Highlands Trailblazers/AWCA) 2:23.4
6. Heidi Widmer (Foothills/AWCA) 2:34.4
7. Alysson Marshall (Larch Hills/AWCA/BCST) 2:36.3
8. Annika Hicks (Canmore Nordic/AWCA) 2:40.6
9. Anne-Marie Comeau (Club Nordique M.S.A.) 2:44.3
10. Erin Tribe (Team Hardwood/NDC Thunder Bay)2:44.6
Open Male
1. George Grey (Black Jack/NST) 39:21.9
2. Graham Nishikawa (Whitehorse/AWCA) 5.4
3. Michael Somppi (Lappe Nordic/NDC Thunder Bay) 12.7
4. Brent McMurtry (Foothill) 55.0
5. David Greer (Whitehorse/CNEPH) 56.1
6. Erik Carleton (Rocky Mountain Racers/RMR) 58.4
7. Jess Cockney (Foothills/AWCA) 58.8
8. Graeme Killick (Banff Ski Runners/ NST) 1:20.9
9. Pate Neumann (Canmore Nordic/AWCA) 1:33.0
10. Kevin Sandau (Foothills/NST/AWCA) 1:34.1