Cross-country skiers with the Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club are champions once again.
Impressive podium finishes from the city’s top young competitors secured them the Ontario Youth Championships banner for a fourth straight year at Hiawatha Highlands last weekend.
Skiers from the local club made up nearly a third of all participants.
Despite little snow and some icy and puddled conditions, the event hung on for a memorable weekend thanks to the hard work of more than 100 volunteers who ensured the event ran smoothly.
Full news release and results below:
It was a late winter miracle for Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club, as they successfully hosted the Ontario Youth Championships of cross-country skiing in a year that's seen very little snow.
Nearly 240 cross country skiers from across the province between the ages of 6-13 participated, including 70 representing Soo Finnish Nordic.
On the strength of the phenomenal number of local athletes who competed, as well as several podium performances, Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club brought home the Ontario Youth Championship banner for a fourth consecutive year.
The behind-the-scenes heroes of the event were the 100 volunteers working diligently in the weeks and days prior the race weekend. Some volunteers logged an incredible number of hours shovelling snow from the neighbouring wooded areas onto the ski trails at Hiawatha Highlands. The trail grooming team did an incredible job with the snow they had to work with, and the snow held on until the end of the weekend, despite some icy and puddled conditions. Other volunteers included course marshalling, timing, coaching, ski waxing, security, hospitality, medical, MCing, and photography.
The championships hosted three races: a freestyle interval individual race and a fun team sprint on Saturday, followed by a classic mass start race on Sunday. Soo Finnish athletes who achieved podium performances in their birth year category include:
Freestyle interval - Henry Harvey (gold), Max Solomon (silver), Isla Sinclair (silver), Camille Poule (bronze), Liam O’Toole (silver), Owen Teresinski (bronze), Elodie Kahtava (bronze), Isaac Coutu (silver), Wini Swiderski (bronze), Cameron Magill (bronze), Maren Maclachlan (bronze), Gwendolyn Tchir (gold), Evelyn Teresinski (silver), Xiaokang Cui (silver), James Elgie (bronze), and Jasper Tchir (gold).
Classic mass start: Max Solomon (gold), Owen Terezinski (silver), Dylan Jones (bronze), Isla Sinclair (silver), Camille Poole (bronze), Sidney Walker (bronze), Tarmo Aho (bronze), Wini Swiderski (bronze), Gwendolyn Tchir (gold), Jasper Tchir (bronze).
Organizers would like to give a special thanks to the volunteers, coaches, parents, and donors who make these excellent youth activities come to fruition.