March 14, 2011 (Sovereign Lake, BC) – Sovereign Lake’s annual 30km freestyle loppet became an international competition as Petr Pavol of the Czech Republic finished in first place. Renowned competitors such as US Olympians Leslie Hall and Laura McCabe, who had participated in the Sparkling Hill Masters World Cup but were ready for more racing, competed in the loppet as well.

“He was looking forward to take part in this race as a finish or culmination of his results from the masters,” said a translator for Pavol. At the MWC2011 Pavol scored two golds and one bronze.

“He was really disappointed that he didn’t medal in the marathon race on the first day of racing so he was insisted on taking part in this one… he was trying to be first.” Pavol finished his race in a time of 1 hour and 22 minutes.

For Pavol skiing in Canada at Sovereign Lake was a memorable experience. When asked of his impression of the ski area he smiled and commented, “Skiing at Sovereign Lake is the best skiing in my life. Really, really.”

Pavol had new competition in the Sovereign Lake Loppet, as second place went to local skier David Harbocian who wasn’t old enough to race as a master skier in the previous week of racing.

“We had a pack of five to eight people at the start, then we went down Silver Queen, some Czech racer decided to attack so I went with him for a few minutes and he decided to drop me,” said Harbocian.

“There were a couple of sections where you would turn a corner and get a blast of head wind,” added Harboacian. “Racing was great, so was the temperature… and the snow was fast.”

Harbocian took the first place result in the men’s 18-29 age category in the 30km race with a time of 1:25. The fastest women’s time was American Olympian Hall with a time of 1:31.

In the men’s 15km race the men’s fastest time went to Jon Sader who finished in 49 minutes. In the women’s category, Theresa Korobanik layed down the fastest race with a time of 1:02.

Gareth Williams topped the 7km field finishing in 23:58 and Dana Allen lead the women 30:50. Ian Oliphant and Keeya Corbett were first in the kids aged 7-9. Mitchell Bond and Sofie Steinruck were the quickest skiers in the six and under category.

Full results HERE.

March 10, 2011 (Sovereign Lake, BC) – Russia showed their strength once again at the Sparkling Hill Masters World Cup taking six golds, as competitors battled it out in the 4x5km classic-free relays on Wednesday. The U.S. walked away with five first place wins while Canada scored one gold.

Barry Makarewicz, Rune Harkestad, Kent Murdoch and Shaun Marchall-Pryde led the Americans in their first gold medal of the day winning the M04 (45-49) category with a lead of 2:27 against the pursuing Russian team.

“Barry laid the foundation for all of us,” said Harkestad. “Barry and I, if we could stay with it we were safe.” Teammate Marchall-Pryde was equally pleased adding, “I got the easy part today. They did all the work. All the guys had good legs. Barry got us started and in a good spot.”

J.D. Downing (American XC Skiers) speaks about the U.S. men’s team race.

The women’s races were led by the U.S. winning three of the four relays. Laura McCabe and Leslie Hall were joined by Angela Robinson and Beth Thomas to show their Russian counterparts they could take the lead and win gold in the F02 (35-39) category.

This was repeated in the F04 (45-49) with Trina Hosmer, Linda Mcclatchy, Carolyn Senty and June Lane winning gold. In the women’s F03 (40-44) Americans Muffy Rice, Ginny Price, Maria Allen and Rosalyn Singleton came in 28 seconds ahead of the Canadian women’s team.

Canada got on the gold scoreboard as their women defeated the Russians and US teams in the women’s F01 category (30-34) with two prior gold medalists Nikki Kassel and Marta Green joined by Doris Hausleitner and Nikki Norrie.

“It was a fast start,” said Kassel who followed a Russian skier. Then Hausleitner tagged in, “I came and caught the Russian and had a little gap on her.” Hausleitner was followed by Norrie who did the skating and “never saw the Russian after that.”

Norrie tagged in Green who described the race as “… all fun after that.”

Full results HERE.

March 08, 2011 (Vernon, BC) – Monday was the biggest day of racing at the Sparkling Hill Masters World Cup with 405 Canadians gracing start lines out of 1,000 racers competing in the short distance races – 5km and 10km – for either classic or freestyle technique.

“Perfect sunny skies, blue conditions and the tracks held up really well,” described American top master skier and former Olympian, Laura McCabe, of the near perfect conditions.

McCabe had another great day of racing winning silver in the women’s F03 10km CL at 9s behind the fastest woman of the classic races, Russian Liliya Vasilyva with a time of 31:26. “She gapped me by three feet on the downhill, and I just couldn’t quite get it back, but it was a good race,” she added.

Fellow American Leslie Hall took her second gold in the women’s F04 10km classic race on Monday in 33:14 ahead of two Canadians, Sheila Kealey with a time of 33:54 and Marg Fedyna who finished in 34:42.

The men’s 10km classic fastest time went to Biagio Di Santo of Italy (30-34) who finished in 28:16 while the freestyle overall male title went to Pavel Petr of the Czech Republic (40-44) in 25:24.

The fastest US male in classic racing was Eric Martin in 28:26, finishing ahead of Canadian Stephan Desfosses in 29:44.

The USA’s Nathan Schultz posted the best North American freestyle finish with the quickest time of 26:08 while Canadian Michele Labrie posted the second fastest NA time in 27:11.

“It was a great course, and a great day,” said Canuck William Gardner of his M09 (70-74) 10km classic race . “Everything was great. The snow was perfect.”

Canada’s Nancy Burden had a superb race, leading by two minutes in the 45-49 category with the fastest female freestyle race time. “I wanted to be right at the front, but not push too hard and then as soon as I get into the hills, that’s my strength… as soon as there’s climbing, then just start to wind it up. That was my approach.”

Local skiers continue to show their home town advantage, with Pat Pearce scoring her second gold in the women’s classic (55-59) and Marta Green taking gold in the 10km freestyle (30-34).

“It was a really tough race today, but very exciting,” said Pearce. “The conditions are absolutely perfect. I could go up every hill the way I like to.

“I absolutely feel that I have an advantage. I know the course, I know where I can pick up speed, I know where I can relax. I feel like it’s been a big advantage.”

Local Olympian Joe Derochie had the loudest fan club, drawing over 70 spectators to watch his race. Derochie was racing in the men’s freestyle (70-75) while his son Darren, also an Olympian, raced in the classic (40-44).

Derochie said “Me and the Swede fella worked one against another, and I caught him on a hill. My skis were well waxed. It was a good race.”

Day 3 Classic results HERE.
Day 3 Freestyle results coming