January 30, 2016 (Mont-Ste-Anne, Quebec) – It started off as a nice sunny day, as the women’s race got underway at the Haywood NorAm competition in Mont-Ste-Anne, Quebec. Temperatures were just below 0 deg. C.  Firm tracks and some fresh powder from yesterday, made for great skiing conditions but by the men’s race, it clouded over and the wind picked up.

With about a month to go before Ski Tour Canada 2016, the competition for places on the Canadian team for those World Cups is heating up. This weekend of racing and the Haywood Eastern and Western Canadian Championships, Feb 5-7 and 18-21st respectively, will be an athlete’s final chances to make their case for selection. Selection Criteria.

Cendrine Browne © CCC

Going into today’s races Andrea Dupont and Kevin Sandau were the Haywood leaders, a position that provides automatic selection to Ski Tour Canada 2016.  With the absence of the top 2 men and top 3 women at these races, it is an opportunity for someone to garb some good points and move up into the lead positions.

Complete Haywood NorAm standings

The remaining Haywood NorAm’s are also important, as they will be used for selection in the various ranking lists that will help fill out the Ski Tour Canada team.

Womens podium © CCC

The first race off today was the open women’s 5k classic. Cendrine Browne of Fondeurs Laurentides, just back from a stint on the World Cup, carried on her great form to win the event by 7 seconds over Skinouk’s Sophie Carrier-Laforte. In 3rd was local skier Frédérique Vézina 20 seconds later.

Another Mont Ste. Anne skier, Marie Corriveau, was the junior winner, close to 30 seconds ahead of Catherine Reed-Métayer from Skibec, the other host club. Isabella Howden of Team Hardwood was 3rd.

Bob Thompson © CCC

The men’s 10k was a tight race, with Team Hardwood’s Bob Thompson coming through for the win ahead of Lappe’s Andy Shields by only .2 seconds.  Another Lappe skier Michael Somppi was 3rd, 14 seconds later.

On the junior side it was the Skibec duo of Antoine Blais and Philippe Boucher finishing 1st and 2nd, with Joey Foster of Team Hardwood in 3rd.

Mens Podium © CCC

Results

The results will tighten the competition at the top of the Haywood NorAm Leader Board, as the top few in today’s races were all in direct competition with each other, just below the previous leaders.

Audio Interview with men’s winner Bob Thompson

Audio Interview with women’s winner Cendrine Browne

Photos and audio interviews by Lisa Patterson, CCC High Performance Development Coordinator.

Next up skate pursuit races tomorrow.