A small but competitive group of seven athletes from the Strathcona Nordic cross country ski team journeyed to Prince George to compete at the BC Cup #2 races. Over two days of racing, each made it to the podium.
The first day was a series of free technique sprint races. Ben Galik of Royston skated his course with ease to win a gold medal for the U10 boys. Amelia Wells of Victoria also won gold for the U18 girls. Hugo Henckel of Courtenay, Gavin Chatterton of Campbell River and Emma Wong of Courtenay won silver medals. Anna Chatterton finished fourth for U16 girls, and Maddie Galik was fifth in the U14 girls category.
Day two was a mass start distance race in classic technique. Despite being directed on the wrong course, Maddie stuck with her instincts to win her race. Emma also captured gold in U18 girls. Gavin won silver, as did Ben Galik in U10 boys. Amelia won bronze in the distance race, and Anna was again fourth.
Meanwhile, teammate Gabe Gledhill of Cumberland was in Mont Sainte Anne, Que., competing in the difficult U20 category at the World Junior Championship Trials. He finished 12th overall in the free technique sprints, had a fabulous race to place eighth in the 15k classic technique race and 13th in the 30k free technique long distance mass start race.
Gabe and Emma are in Europe next week with the BC Ski Team to compete in a series of races in Salzburg and St. Jakob/Rosental, Austria and in Klosters, Switzerland.
The Strathcona Nordic Ski Club hosts their local Coast Cup races over the long weekend on Mt. Washington. FMI: www.strathconanordics.com