National Championships Update
Have you been following what is happening this week at Whistler Olympic Park? It’s the first National Championships since the start of the pandemic, and Manitoba athletes have been flying!
Representing Manitoba are 10 athletes:
From Boundary Trails Nordic: William Vanden Berg, Hezekiah Hoeppner, Mia Sawatsky , Ben and Naomi Weins
Downtown Nordic: Hannah Wintoniw and Imogen Nadlersmith
Red River Nordic: Luke Enns
Para Nordic: Jesse Bachinsky (Kenora Nordic) and guide Levi Nadlersmith – both members of Nordiq Canada’s Para Nordic Development Team.
Supporting coaches and wax techs are Pauline Nadlersmith, Andrew Vanden Berg and Steven Wintoniw, and staff apprentice Cheryl Koop.
It is also exciting to see MB alumnus skier Conor McGovern posting some great results for Lakehead University in the Open and CCUNC men categories.
And just in case anyone recognized that voice, Downtown Nordic co-founder Steven Scoles is the commentator on the event live streaming!
Highlights of the first 4 days of competition include a 2nd place for William Vanden Berg on day 2 in the U18 boys classic 10 km race. Jesse Bachinsky and guide Levi Nadlersmith put together an exciting sprint race to finish on top on day 3.
And if you didn’t catch it, there were some spectacular classic sprint races on days 3 and 4 of the competition, with 4 Manitobans qualifying for heats and 3 moving up to semifinals! Congratulations to Downtown Nordic Imogen Nadlersmith (U20 quarterfinals), Boundary Trails athletes William Vanden Berg (U 18 9th) and Mia Sawatsky (U18 7th) and Red River Nordic skier Luke Enns (U16 10th). These junior fields are large, including over 80 skiers in each of U16 boys and girls, and U18 boys.
2 days of racing remain, with the mass start distance races wrapping up on Sunday March 27. Go Team Toba!
Check out 2022 Canadian National XC Championships & US Super Tour Finals – Black Tusk Nordic Events Society for information, and Zone 4 for results 2022 Canadian Ski Championships and US SuperTour Finals | Zone4.ca
