February 5, 2007 – Kootenay Savings Community Foundation Canadian Masters Championships is off to a great start as 91 racers have registered for the week’s events, promising some fun and interesting times at Black Jack Cross Country Ski Club. Waxing conditions were difficult today as Rossland is experiencing a warming trend. As a result, racing conditions were tricky, and for the first event of the week, a 20 km classic race, Klister was the wax of the day, as x-c.com representative Phil Villeneuve told everyone.

Today, 82 year old Jorgen Dahlie was the oldest competitor. He races with the Nordic Racers in North Vancouver and he managed to nab second place in the Masters Men’s 70+ category. Local favourite and ski racer extraordinaire, Jonas Sandstrom was the fastest overall man with a time of 59:39.8.

The fastest woman today was Michele Wolfe, from Kelowna Nordic, with a time of 1:08:56.7. Our next race kicks off on Wednesday at 10:30 AM with a mass start classic 10km race. For more information, or to see full results, please see our website www.skiblackjack.ca.

Many thanks to Gerald of Gerick’s Cycle in Trail for lending his announcing expertise to this event. Thanks also to KBS for providing on the spot radio coverage.

Results for the race were as follows:

Masters Men 30-34
1. Seth Bitting Black Jack Ski Club

Masters Men 35-39
1. Jonas Sandstrom Black Jack
2. Peter Plaunt Madshus

Masters Men 40-44
1. Petr Jakl Hollyburn JR/Wnordski
2. Victor Daigle Calgary Ski club
3. Rod Campbell

Masters Men 45-49
1. George Smith Calgary Ski Club
2.

Masters Men 50-54
1. Fred Bushell Black Jack Ski Club
2. Bob Sawyer Black Jack Ski Club
3. Robert Bernier Montreal

Masters Men 55-59
1. Lyle Wilson Toby Creek Nordic
2. Gerry Morrison Telemark
3. Lorris Williams Edmonton Nordic

Masters Men 60-64
1. Helge Halvorsen Alberta Masters
2. Robert Grey Black Jack Ski Club
3. Dave Rees Canmore Nordic

Masters Men 65-69
1. Jean-Yves Babin Master AGF
2. Gerhard Schopp Banff Ski Runners
3. Eric Rayson Telemark

Masters Men 70+
1. Irvin Servold Devon Nordic
2. Jorgen Dahlie Nordic Racers

Masters Women 35-39
1. Lee-Anne Laverty Black Jack
2. Gabrielle Campbell Black Jack

Masters Women 40-44
1. Michele Wolfe Kelwona Nordic
2. Kim Kitching Nipika

Masters Women 45-49
1. Louise Martineau Mouski
2. Delia Chriastiansen Kimberley Nordic
3. Lee Girouard Calgary Ski Club

Masters Women 50-54
1. Brenda Trenholme Black Jack

Masters Women 55-59
1. Kathy Wiliams Edmonton Nordic

Masters Women 60-64
1. Shirley Gray Nickleplate

Masters Women 65-69
1. Alena Branda Nordique Racers
2. Emmanuelle Gunter North Bay Nordic