Alta Gas Report
Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club
January 2014
With two months of skiing under our belts, the Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club is marching forwards with a head full of steam! Our programming begins with three year-old Bunnies and carries on through to Master’s skiers with more decades on snow than you can count on one hand.
The basis of our program is rooted in our Race Team, comprised of athletes from nine to 17 years of age. These athletes train as group three to five times weekly under the direction of Coach Matt and with the generous support of coaches Bruce Granstrom, Rory Luxmoore and Katie Nash. Thus far in the 2013-14 season, we have competed in three significant races (NORAM, Okanagan Cup and two BC Cups) and one loppet (Reino Keski). Over the course of the racing season, the team will compete in the Okanagan Cup Finale, the Midget Championships, Western Championships and the BC Championships. Coaches all agree how wonderful it is to work with a group of young athletes who are committed to improving their fitness and technique, gaining experience on the race course and realizing their season’s objectives! Below is a compiled list of our top results this season – great work skiers!
NORAM, December 7th & 8th at Sovereign Lake Nordic Ski Club
8th Alana Brittin (Juvenile Girls, 5km Interval Classic)
Okanagan Cup, December 29th at Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club
1st Simon Blackie (Midget Boys 1, 3.5km Interval Classic)
1st Alana Brittin (Midget Girls 2, 3.5km Interval Classic)
2nd Nelson Luxmoore (Bantam Boys 1, 2.5km Interval Classic)
3rd Francesco Morrone (Pee Wee Boys 1, 1.5km Interval Classic)
3rd Miika Park (Midget Girls 1, 3.5km Interval Classic)
3rd Elizabeth Elliott (Midget Girls 2, 3.5km Interval Classic)
3rd Tayla Koerber (Junior Girls, 10km Interval Classic)
*This Okanagan Cup served as a BC Winter Games Qualifier. Our four eligible athletes: Kate Granstrom, Beth Granstrom, Elizabeth Elliott and Alana Brittin qualified to compete in the event held in Mission/Callaghan Valley on Feburary 22nd – 24th. Coach Matt will be the co-coach for the Okanagan region at the event.
BC Cup, January 4th & 5th at Caledonia Nordic Ski Club
1st Alana Brittin (Midget Girls 2, 3.3km Interval Classic)
2nd Alexandra Luxmoore (Pee Wee Girls 2, 250m Skate Sprint; 1km Interval Classic)
3rd Nelson Luxmoore (Bantam Boys 1, 400m Skate Sprint; 2.3km Interval Classic)
3rd Simon Blackie (Midget Boys 1, 400m Skate Sprint; 3.3km Interval Classic)
3rd Miika Park (Midget Girls 1, 3.3km Interval Classic)
BC Cup, January 25th and 26th at Overlander Nordic Ski Club
1st Simon Blackie (Midget Boys 1, 3.75km Mass Start Classic)
1st Alana Brittin (Midget Girls 2, 3.75km Mass Start Classic)
2nd Francesco Morrone (Pee Wee Boys 2, Interval Skate)
3rd Nelson Luxmoore (Bantam Boys 1, Interval Skate)
3rd Simon Blackie (Midget Boys, Interval Skate)
A new addition to our event calendar has been the Headlamp Heroes (HH) Wednesday Night Race Series. These friendly toonie races have already begun to stir up rivalries amongst good-hearted competitors. The inaugural event on December 15th was sponsored by Skookum and saw 34 skiers race either a 1.5km, 3.75km or 7.5km Classic Individual Start event. On January 15th the second HH event was an exciting Skate Sprint held within the confines of our stadium sprint loop. 42 competitors were treated to high-speed action, including falls and finish line lunges, topped off with a chili feast courtesy of the Village Idiot. On February 5th, skiers will compete in a 1.5km, 5km or 10km Skate Mass Start event sponsored by Free Spirit Sports. Flowt will be proudly sponsoring the series finale, a four-person team relay. The first two 2.5km legs will be classic and the final two 2.5km legs will be skate. The best part about all these events is that you no longer need an excuse to sport your most fluorescent spandex get-up!
Currently, there are have 12 individuals who participate in our technique-based Adult Intermediate and Advanced classes run on Tuesday evenings OR Thursday afternoons. New for this season is our Wednesday Night Open Sessions on non-race night Wednesdays. Participants may either classic or skate during these fitness-based sessions aimed at offering an option for adult skiers who want a group training opportunity. In addition to the Adult Classes and Open Training, we have had 26 skiers take part in our One Day Ski Clinics!
Finally, Columbia Park Elementary has kicked off our Ski Skool program for this season and will be sending their fourth graders to the Pirate Loppet in Salmon Arm. Begbie View and Arrow Heights will be joining us for their February Ski Skool bookings.
With lots of great skiing left in the season, it is important to mention how the continued support from Alta Gas has provided Revelstoke Nordic the opportunity to provide an extensive development program. Stay tuned for more to come!
Matt Smider
Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club Head Coach