Strathcona Nordics racers brought hardware back to the Island from the Cross-country Ski Nationals in Whistler Olympic Park. Andrea Lee picked up two golds and Avalon Wasteneys brought home a bronze.
Lee, who now trains at the National Development Centre in Thunder Bay and additionally skis for the Lakehead University team where she is currently studying, picked up a gold in team sprints and a gold in the 5km skate. Strathcona Nordics were thrilled to see their clubmate race and win in the University Series.
Young Wasteneys won a bronze in the classic sprints, persisting through a fiercely competitive field of 75 juvenile racers in the quarter-, semi-, and final heats. Head coach Dave Battison says, "Avalon has incredible natural ability, and she took all her training, all the things we've been working on, and she executed them perfectly."
When the team learned that Wasteneys was moving into the heats, Battison declared, "We're going to the show!" as he dug deep into his wax arsenal, and they all pulled together to offer Wasteneys lots of encouragement and the most enthusiastic cheering section of any athlete in the finals.
Across the five race events, all 17 members of the team enjoyed shining moments and many personal best races. The young team looks forward to a bright future racing at provincial and national levels.
The Strathcona Nordics are now preparing for the 31st annual Vancouver Island Loppet on April 13. For more information and to register see the website at StrathconaNordics.com.
– Strathcona Nordics