October 26, 2015 (Canmore, AB) – When the dust settled at the fourth-annual WinSport Frozen Thunder Classic it was top qualifiers, Len Valjas and Emily Nishikawa, who prevailed to win the King’s Court style sprint heats that followed on the ~1km loop at the Canmore Nordic Centre. Both skiers are looking forward to heading to Europe for the upcoming World Cups as the first snow competition in North America officially heralds the new season.
The Frozen Thunder project was originally piloted in 2009 with 400-metres of trail and has expanded each year to realize a 1km+ loop. The Canmore Nordic Centre now touts itself as the first to open its trails on the continent each year – check out the action from today’s competition.
![Ember Large [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Ember-Large_pamdoyle-ww-125x125.jpg)
- Ember Large © Pam Doyle
![Ember Large [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Ember-Large_pamdoyle-ww.jpg)
![Dahria Beatty in the qualifier at Frozen Thunder [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Dahria-Beatty_pamdoyle-ww-125x125.jpg)
- Dahria Beatty in the qualifier at Frozen Thunder © Pam Doyle
![Dahria Beatty in the qualifier at Frozen Thunder [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Dahria-Beatty_pamdoyle-ww.jpg)
![Emily Nishikawa wins the Open Women’s race @ Frozen Thunder [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Emily-Nishikawa-_pamdoyle-ww-125x125.jpg)
- Emily Nishikawa wins the Open Women's race @ Frozen Thunder © Pam Doyle
![Emily Nishikawa wins the Open Women’s race @ Frozen Thunder [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Emily-Nishikawa-_pamdoyle-ww.jpg)
![Emma Camicioli [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Emma-Camicioli_pamdoyle-ww-125x125.jpg)
- Emma Camicioli © Pam Doyle
![Emma Camicioli [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Emma-Camicioli_pamdoyle-ww.jpg)
![Annika Hicks in the qualifier for Frozen Thunder Classic Sprint [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Annika-Hicks_pamdoyle-ww-125x125.jpg)
- Annika Hicks in the qualifier for Frozen Thunder Classic Sprint © Pam Doyle
![Annika Hicks in the qualifier for Frozen Thunder Classic Sprint [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Annika-Hicks_pamdoyle-ww.jpg)
![Valjas [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Valjas-2015-10-26-at-10.38.05-PM-125x125.png)
- Valjas © Pam Doyle
![Valjas [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Valjas-2015-10-26-at-10.38.05-PM.png)
![Graeme Killick [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/GraemeKillick-skis_pamdoyle-ww-copy-125x125.jpg)
- Graeme Killick © Pam Doyle
![Graeme Killick [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/GraemeKillick-skis_pamdoyle-ww-copy.jpg)
![Kevin Sandau [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/KevinSandau-skis_pamdoyle-ww-copy-125x125.jpg)
- Kevin Sandau © Pam Doyle
![Kevin Sandau [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/KevinSandau-skis_pamdoyle-ww-copy.jpg)
![Levi Nadler Smith [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/LeviNadlersmith_pamdoyle-ww-copy-125x125.jpg)
- Levi Nadler Smith © Pam Doyle
![Levi Nadler Smith [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/LeviNadlersmith_pamdoyle-ww-copy.jpg)
![Len Valjas, number one, of Canmore stays ahead of the pack to win the final heat of the Frozen Thunder Classic sprint [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/FrozenThunderLenValjas_pamdoyle-ww-copy-125x125.jpg)
- Len Valjas, number one, of Canmore stays ahead of the pack to win the final heat of the Frozen Thunder Classic sprint © Pam Doyle
![Len Valjas, number one, of Canmore stays ahead of the pack to win the final heat of the Frozen Thunder Classic sprint [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/FrozenThunderLenValjas_pamdoyle-ww-copy.jpg)
![Ivan Babikov and Locke [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Ivan-Babikov-and-Locke_pdoyle-ww-125x125.jpg)
- Ivan Babikov and Locke © Pam Doyle
![Ivan Babikov and Locke [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Ivan-Babikov-and-Locke_pdoyle-ww.jpg)
![Jesse Cockney [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Jesse-Cockney_pamdoyle-ww-125x125.jpg)
- Jesse Cockney © Pam Doyle
![Jesse Cockney [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Jesse-Cockney_pamdoyle-ww.jpg)
![Kevin Sandau leading [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Kevin-Sandau-pack_pamdoyle-ww-125x125.jpg)
- Kevin Sandau leading © Pam Doyle
![Kevin Sandau leading [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Kevin-Sandau-pack_pamdoyle-ww.jpg)
![Kevin Sandau [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Kevin-Sandau-skis_pamdoyle-ww-1-125x125.jpg)
- Kevin Sandau © Pam Doyle
![Kevin Sandau [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Kevin-Sandau-skis_pamdoyle-ww-1.jpg)
![Knute Johnsgaard [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Knute-Johnsgaard_pamdoyle-ww.2-125x125.jpg)
- Knute Johnsgaard © Pam Doyle
![Knute Johnsgaard [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Knute-Johnsgaard_pamdoyle-ww.2.jpg)
![Valjas and Johnsgaard [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Valjas-Knute_pamdoyle-ww-125x125.jpg)
- Valjas and Johnsgaard © Pam Doyle
![Valjas and Johnsgaard [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Valjas-Knute_pamdoyle-ww.jpg)
![Ivan Babikov at Frozen Thunder qualifier [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Ivan-Babikov-skis_pamdoyle-ww-1-125x125.jpg)
- Ivan Babikov at Frozen Thunder qualifier © Pam Doyle
![Ivan Babikov at Frozen Thunder qualifier [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Ivan-Babikov-skis_pamdoyle-ww-1.jpg)
![Valjas and Stewart-Jones [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Valjas-Stewart-Jones_pamdoyle-ww-1-125x125.jpg)
- Valjas and Stewart-Jones © Pam Doyle
![Valjas and Stewart-Jones [P] Pam Doyle](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Valjas-Stewart-Jones_pamdoyle-ww-1.jpg)