Whistler Nordics youth skiers secured a number of great finishes during Teck B.C. Cup Championship races in Prince George on Saturday and Sunday, many coming in the top three.
In Saturday’s classic races, Michael Murdoch and Fraser Doak were nearly on the midget boys’ podium together when Murdoch finished second and Doak placed fourth in their five-km event. Owen Reith wound up fifth in his midget-level race.
Benita Peiffer also had a strong performance in midget girls’ racing by placing third.
Jenya Nordin and Lauren Doak finished 11 seconds apart in their junior girls’ 7.5-km race, finishing third and fourth, respectively. Nicki Murdoch skied the same distance unopposed in the junior women’s class, crossing the line one second in front of Nordin.
“I thought (Nordin) did really well with her classic technique and really stepped it up a bit,” said Nordics coach Jessica Aldighieri.
Two Whistler Nordics competed in the master men’s 50 to 59 race. Brent Murdoch finished third and Ian Reith skied to seventh in the 10-km event.
Michael Murdoch, Fraser Doak and Owen Reith teamed up for Sunday’s free relay race and won the midget boys’ division, skiing the three laps of 2.5 km in 22 minutes, 28 seconds.
“They skied pretty well,” said Aldighieri. “Owen doesn’t usually train with us, but he loves to race and he races really well. Michael and Fraser really skied well, too, and I was happy with their techniques.”
Nordin, Lauren Doak and Nicki Murdoch formed a squad in the junior women’s class and were firmly in third, completing three 3.75-km laps in 37:49.
“Nicki skied really, really well on the Sunday,” said Aldighieri.
Peiffer also joined an unofficial relay team on Sunday and Aldighieri said she produced some great performances in Prince George as well.
Aldighieri said the team arrived in Prince George to unseasonably warm weather, with rain falling at times, and that the Nordics were impressed by the new trails used on the weekend that will feature in the next Canada Winter Games.
Many of the club’s skiers will be involved in the Spud Valley Loppet and Lost Lake Classic over the next two weekends before heading to the B.C. Midget Championships or Western Canadian Championships.
