Soo Finnish Club takes home Ontario Youth Championship banner

For a third straight year, cross-country skiers from the Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club combined to win the coveted banner at the Ontario Youth Championships in Timmins over the weekend

Previous Next

1 / 1 Cross-country skiers from the Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club earned their third consecutive banner at the Ontario Youth Championships in Timmins this past weekend.Photo supplied

Expand

The Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club is on top once again.

Over the weekend, more than 40 young cross-country skiers from the club combined a number of impressive finishes to earn the Ontario Youth Championship banner in Timmins for a third consecutive season.

Participants between the ages of 6-13 came together from all over the province to compete in two main races: a classic technique interval start race on Saturday, and a freestyle (skate skiing) race mass start on Sunday.

During both days of the championship meet, athletes scored seven points for 1st, five points for 2nd, four points for 3rd, three points for 4th, and two points for 5th. Each athlete who completed the race also also scored one point.

The Soo Finnish athletes got off to hot start on Saturday as standout medal winners included Isaac Coutu (gold), Wini Swiderski (bronze), Owen Euale (silver), Maren MacLachlan (silver), Gwen Tchir (gold), Evelyn Teresinki (silver), Xiaokang Cui (bronze), James Elgie (silver), and Jasper Tchir (silver).

Gold, silver, and bronze medal winners were honoured at a banquet Saturday night where it was announced that the Soo Finnish club was in the lead to get the coveted banner – awarded to the team with top aggregate results over the two-day competition.

On Sunday, the Soo Finnish skiers continued their dominance with excellent results in the skate ski race.

Standout finishers included Isaac Coutu (gold), Owen Teresinski (silver), Cameron Magill (silver), Brody Wilson (bronze), Maren MacLachlan (gold), Gwen Tchir (gold), Evelyn Teresinski (silver), Xiaokang Cui (silver), James Elgie (bronze), Jasper Tchir (gold), and Oliver Benac (silver).

On the strength of the phenomenal number of local athletes who competed, as well as the number of top five finishes throughout the weekend, the Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club brought home the Ontario Youth Championship banner for a third consecutive year.

During the banner presentation, the club also learned that Cross Country Ski Ontario has awarded the Ontario Youth Championships to Sault Ste. Marie next year, which will take place at Hiawatha Highlands in March 2024.

Organizers would like to give a special thanks to the volunteers, coaches, parents, and donors who make these excellent youth activities come to fruition.