March 19, 2008 (Callaghan Valley, B.C.) – Conditions on the trails deteriorated as snow piled up on the climbs and continued to be pushed to the sides of downhill corners. By the time the open and junior men’s category raced there were significant holes in the downhill corners as so many skiers had already gone down. But when the constant precipitation was added, the circumstances suited Ivan Babikov perfectly. “It’s better for me when it’s hard for everybody. My strength is to go hard when everything is hard,” said Babikov, after winning his second medal in two days

Babikov, skiing for Foothills Nordic, skated to a 37:28 to take the open men’s 15km free race national title. “This is an important event to me for many reasons, but it is nice to be here now as a Canadian,” said Babikov in a CCC release. He hopes to race with the national program next season. “It is the Olympic venue and I am trying to get comfortable out here so I’m ready in two years,” he added.

Whitehorse XC skier Graham Nishikawa took second place and the silver, 35:1 seconds back. Alaska Pacific University’s Lars Flora took to the podium for the second time as well, scooping third place, 41.2 seconds back. It was an international finish as Norway’s Jon Anders Gaustad took the fourth spot with a time of 38:18.7.

Gaustad is a former member of the Norwegian team who is trying to get back on the team. “I wanted to try out the tracks and be prepared for 2010. I had a terrible season last year and I have to make my way back on the team,” he said. “It’s good energy to this for the next two years. I really like Canada.”

Junior Men
Frederic Touchette of Club Nordique M.S.A. had an incredibly fast time to take this category. He skied a 39:04, putting him 12th overall in a field of 174. Hakon Lenes of Banff Ski Runners took the silver medal, 14 seconds back of Touchette and 16th overall in a time of 39:18:3. His teammate Graeme Killick took the bronze finishing 0.3 seconds behind him in 39:18:6 and in 17th place. Fourth place went to American Noah Hoffman of Sun Valley who was 1:02 minutes back of Touchette. Julian Nury of Skibec took fifth place, 1:17 minutes behind while Len Valjas of Team Hardwood was sixth, 1:18 minutes back.

More photos here.

Results

1. Ivan Babikov (Can, Canmore, Alta.)37:28.1
2. Graham Nishikawa (Can, Whitehorse, Yukon) 38:03.2
3. Lars Flora (USA) 38:09.3
4. Jon Anders Gaustad (Can, Hamar, Sask) 38:18.7
5. Brent McMurtry (Can, Calgary, AB) 38:20.0

For complete results visit www.zone4.ca