December 08, 2015 (Canmore, AB) – Race Day 3 of the Haywood NorAm Series in Canmore,  got underway with classic sprints, presented by Buff Canada. Today’s races count towards European B Tour qualifications, for up to four women and two men born in 1991 and after, as well as Haywood NorAm overall leaders status. The NorAm leader status can potentially gain the skier entry into the upcoming FIS World Cups in January.

Senior men's final © Drew Goldsack

Another qualifying opportunity on tap today is for one male and one female, born in 1998-2000, that will qualify for the 2016 Youth Olympic Games, in Lillehammer, Norway. The sprint today and a distance race in next weekend’s Haywood NorAms at Sovereign Lake, will determine who qualifies for Lillehammer. Trip Selection Details

It was damp and a few degrees above zero as the morning qualifiers got underway, but the forecast was calling for a heavy snow/rain mix in the afternoon, which could present some challenges and interesting tactics for the knock-out heats.

Junior women's podium © Drew Goldsack

In the women’s qualifier Cendrine Browne from Fondeurs-Laurentides won by four seconds. It was a tight race for the next place as Jenn Jackson (Team Hardwood), Sophie Carrier-Laforte (Skinouk) and Marie Corriveau (Mont Ste. Anne) were all a 10th of a second apart.

The top Junior Woman was Delphine Tardif of Montériski while Hannah Mehain of Sovereign Lake dominated the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), girls qualifier with an unofficial 12-second victory.

Junior men's podium © Drew Goldsack

On the men’s side Knute Johnsgaard of Whitehorse had a comfortable 4-second lead over Julien Locke of Black Jack. The top junior was Julian Smith of Georgian Bay.

For the boys YOG race, Manitoba skier Levi Nadlersmith of Downtown Nordic was the top qualifier.

The worst of the weather held off for the heats, but there was a mix of rain and snow falling throughout.

Senior women's podium © Drew Goldsack

In the Junior women’s race Katie Weaver of Hollyburn and Delphine Tardif continued their battle from the qualifications where they were separated by a little over a second. They raced in and won separate quarter and semi-finals fairly comfortably. The final was another tight race with Weaver edging Tardif by a mere 7/100ths at the finish.

Browne and Jackson were the top qualifiers in Senior Women’s field and won their semis, but it was Whitehorse’s Dahria Beatty that came through as champion in the final, by almost three seconds. Browne edged Jackson for 2nd by a 0.2-second margin.

Senior women's final © Drew Goldsack

“I am typically not a sprinter but really happy with this result today, and hoping to improve on the sprint side this season. Excited to be off to a good start for selections for Ski Tour Canada 2016 team,” said Beatty.

In the Junior Men’s final, Julian Smith the top qualifier, won by a second over Caelan McLean of Whitehorse, who had narrowly escaped the quarter-finals as a “lucky loser”. Gareth Williams of Telemark was 3rd.

Senior men's podium © Drew Goldsack

There was very tight racing throughout the heats in the Senior Men’s class. It was Bob Thompson of Team Hardwood that prevailed at the finish, by a bit over a second to a group of four led by Patrick Stewart-Jones. Less than a second separated positions 2-5, as Andy Shields of Lappe came 3rd, Kevin Sandau of Foothill’s Nordic was 4th and Julien Locke placed 5th.

In the YOG girls race, 15th qualifier, Natalie Hynes of Whitehorse came through with the win by a second over top qualifier Hannah Mehain. Annika Richardson of Hollyburn was 3rd. The Yukon seemed to have the best gliding skis for most of the day, which contributed to their strong team results.

Today’s result should make qualifying for the YOG spot very close, going into the 2nd race to be held next weekend on Mehain’s home course at Sovereign Lake.

In the YOG boy’s race, Patrick McIlroy of Avalon Ski Club, (St. John’s Nfld.) won by a large margin of five seconds. Second place went to Remi Drolet of Black Jack and half a second later in 3rd, was Antoine Laforte of Skibec.

Qualification results

Heat Results