The Bulkley Valley was well represented at the Haywood Nationals in March, during the top cross country ski competition in the country. Hundreds of skiers from all the provinces converged on Canmore, Alberta for a week near the end of March, to compete at the highest level of Canadian racing.
Bulkley Valley Nordic coach Chris Werrell said the competition was a solid finish to his first season coaching in Smithers.
“They definitely surpassed my expectations for the year,” he said.
Originally, he had planned on five racers making the Nationals, but partway through the season another five athletes were added to the list, along with one Bulkley Valley racer competing for her university. All the racers gained valuable experience at the Nationals, which, for the young crew in Smithers, will come in handy in the coming years, he said. Some of the skiers were racing in a category above their normal age group as well, so several top ten finishes are positive signs of what’s to come.
“Overall it was a great year for the club and the racing program, and I think we’re only headed in a forward direction from here,” said Werrell.
Para-nordic skier Jody Barber returned home with two top finishes, including a gold in the Standing Women 7.5km Classic race, and a silver in the Standing Women 7.5km Free. Bulkley Valley Nordic skier Cara McCulloch, also skiing for UBC, finished in second place in the Junior Women 20km Free.
Kate Woods finished in seventh place in the Juvenile Girls 5km Free, in a field of over 80 skiers. In the Male Free Sprint Relay, consisting of three laps of 800m each, Gabriel Price and Craig Osborn finished in sixth place. In the female event of the same race, the team of Kayleigh Cuell and Kate Woods finished in eighth.