October 31, 2018 (Canmore, AB) – Conditions at the Canmore Nordic Centre were hard and fast for the women’s 7.5km freestyle individual start but deteriorated for the men’s 10km race with deep sugary snow getting treacherous on some of the climbs.
![Senior Women's podium (l-r) Feldman 3rd, Nishikawa 1st, Beatty 2nd [P] Drew Goldsack](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Senior-W-Pod-IMG_9030-copy-525x433.jpg)
Senior Women's podium (l-r) Feldman 3rd, Nishikawa 1st, Beatty 2nd © Drew Goldsack
Emily Nishikawa (Whitehorse Ski Club/AIAWCA-NST) grabbed the win by about 25 seconds over King Court winner, Dahria Beatty (Whitehorse Ski Club/AIAWCA-NST), with Catherine Feldman (Sun Valley SEF/SVSEF Gold Team) in third. Biathlete, Emma Lunder, of Rocky Mountain Racers was the 3rd best Canadian.
![Russell Kennedy of the Canadian Para Team/Team R.A.D on his way to victory [P] Drew Goldsack](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Russell-Kennedy-FT24.2-525x405.jpg)
Russell Kennedy of the Canadian Para Team/Team R.A.D on his way to victory © Drew Goldsack
Russell Kennedy (Canmore Nordic/Team R.A.D.) took home the men’s title with Adam Luban (Sun Valley SEF/SVSEF) second followed by
Graham Nishikawa (Whitehorse Ski Club/CPNST) in third. Lenny Valjas, who won the Kings Court race on Monday, the 3rd best Canuck.
![Graham Nishikawa of the Canadian Para-nordic Team rounds a corner on his way to a 3rd place finish. Reed Godfrey of Team R.A.D follows [P] Drew Goldsack](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Graham-Nishikawa-FT22.2-525x409.jpg)
Graham Nishikawa of the Canadian Para-nordic Team rounds a corner on his way to a 3rd place finish. Reed Godfrey of Team R.A.D follows © Drew Goldsack
For the juniors Shilo Rousseau of Barrie XC came across the line in first, a half a second ahead of Amanda Thompson. Jenna Sherrington of Foothills Nordic (ULLR) was 3rd. Local skier Sam Hendry came away with the Junior Men’s win, just over 10 seconds ahead of Barrie XC’s Finn Dodgson. Tom Stephen (Foothills/ULLR) was 3rd, another 15 seconds back.
![Junior racer Nelson Luxmore and Senior Alex Mcdonald head out on another lap [P] Drew Goldsack](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Luxmore_McDonald-FT21-copy-525x383.jpg)
Junior racer Nelson Luxmore and Senior Alex Mcdonald head out on another lap © Drew Goldsack
The turnout for the races was good with nearly 50 women and 70 men suiting up. Many Biathlon Canada Team members entered the distance race on both the men’s and women’s side. There was also a strong contingent of racers from the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation that made the trip up from the US.
![Lenny Valjas of the Canadian National Team [P] Drew Goldsack](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Lenny-Valjas-FT23-copy-525x386.jpg)
Lenny Valjas of the Canadian National Team © Drew Goldsack
Since 2009 the Canmore Nordic Centre has developed an early season ski loop of snow, preserved from the previous winter, called Frozen Thunder. It provides a 2k course for nordic skiers and biathletes and usually is the location of the first official FIS, on-snow races of the North American ski season.
![Senior Men's podium (l-r) Nishikawa 3rd, Kennedy 1st, Luban 2nd [P] Drew Goldsack](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Senior-M-Pod-IMG_9039-copy-525x438.jpg)
Senior Men's podium (l-r) Nishikawa 3rd, Kennedy 1st, Luban 2nd © Drew Goldsack
The loop is a partnership of the Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park, WinSport Canada Olympic Park, Cross Country Ski de fond Canada ‘s National Ski Team & Para-Nordic National Ski Team, the Alberta World Cup Society, Biathlon Canada & Biathlon Alberta! And it’s popular.
![Junior Men's podium (l-r) Stephen 3rd, Hendry 1st, Dodgson 2nd [P] Drew Goldsack](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Jr-M-Pod-IMG_9035-copy-525x433.jpg)
Junior Men's podium (l-r) Stephen 3rd, Hendry 1st, Dodgson 2nd © Drew Goldsack
Robin McKeever, Canada’s ParaNordic Head coach calls it “an amazing race format for all levels and genders of athletes as they get to keep racing for 3 heats win or lose” and compete against athletes very close to the same ability
![Junior Women's podium (l-r) Sherrington 3rd, Rousseau 2nd, Thomson 2nd (missing) [P] Drew Goldsack](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Jr-W-Pod-IMG_9032-copy-525x417.jpg)
Junior Women's podium (l-r) Sherrington 3rd, Rousseau 2nd, Thomson 2nd (missing) © Drew Goldsack
The skiers will now focus their attention towards the next top-level events on the horizon, the World Cup in Ruka, Finland Nov 24-25 and the Haywood NorAm, season opener in Sovereign Lake, Dec. 8-9.
Results (brief)
Senior Men
1. Russell Kennedy (Canmore Nordic/Team R.A.D.) 0:22:18.9
2. Adam Luban (Sun Valley SEF/SVSEF) Sun Valley SEFSVSEF
3. Graham Nishikawa (Whitehorse Ski Club/CPNST) 0:22:53.3
Senior Women
1. Emily Nishikawa (Whitehorse Ski Club/AIAWCA-NST) 0:21:05.9
2. Dahria Beatty (Whitehorse Ski Club/AIAWCA-NST) 0:21:29.9
3. Catherine Feldman (Sun Valley SEF/SVSEF Gold Team) 0:21:42.4
Full results here.
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![Senior Women's podium (l-r) Feldman 3rd, Nishikawa 1st, Beatty 2nd [P] Drew Goldsack](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Senior-W-Pod-IMG_9030-copy.jpg)
![Russell Kennedy of the Canadian Para Team/Team R.A.D on his way to victory [P] Drew Goldsack](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Russell-Kennedy-FT24.2.jpg)
![Graham Nishikawa of the Canadian Para-nordic Team rounds a corner on his way to a 3rd place finish. Reed Godfrey of Team R.A.D follows [P] Drew Goldsack](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Graham-Nishikawa-FT22.2.jpg)
![Junior racer Nelson Luxmore and Senior Alex Mcdonald head out on another lap [P] Drew Goldsack](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Luxmore_McDonald-FT21-copy.jpg)
![Lenny Valjas of the Canadian National Team [P] Drew Goldsack](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Lenny-Valjas-FT23-copy.jpg)
![Senior Men's podium (l-r) Nishikawa 3rd, Kennedy 1st, Luban 2nd [P] Drew Goldsack](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Senior-M-Pod-IMG_9039-copy.jpg)
![Junior Men's podium (l-r) Stephen 3rd, Hendry 1st, Dodgson 2nd [P] Drew Goldsack](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Jr-M-Pod-IMG_9035-copy.jpg)
![Junior Women's podium (l-r) Sherrington 3rd, Rousseau 2nd, Thomson 2nd (missing) [P] Drew Goldsack](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Jr-W-Pod-IMG_9032-copy.jpg)