By Andrew Mitchell
Conditions were fast enough at the start of the 29 th annual Whistler Loppet this Sunday, but when the snow started falling about half an hour after the mass start things got a little more challenging. It wasn’t as tough as last year’s 30 cm snowpack from the morning of the race, but competitors still found themselves having to pole their way downhill.
This year 142 people took part, including 44 kids, with courses ranging from 2.8 km for the younger jackrabbits to 30 km for the more ambitious adults. The race started and finished at the Nicklaus North clubhouse, and used sections of the golf course and Lost Lake Park.
This year was the toughest yet for races, with VANOC Director of Nordic Sports and former Olympian John Aalberg in the field, as well as some of the top racers from around the province — Glen Bond, Lars Ole Valoen, Sten Grahn and Vesa Suomalainen.
For the leaders in the 30 km race, the top five athletes were separated by a matter of seconds after the first lap, and by less than a minute after the final stretch on the second lap.
First across the line was Glenn Bond of the Silver Star Nordic Racing Team in 1:23:16, followed by Lars Ole Valoen in 1:23:23. Vesa Suomalainen of the Whistler Nordics was third in 1:23:29, Whistler Nordics coach Sten Grahn placed fourth in 1:23:41, and John Aalberg was fifth in 1:23:54.
On the women’s side, Tobi Henderson was the fastest skier in 1:42:43, followed by Anne Parent in 1:43:26, and Sylvie Allen in 1:45:46. All three were in the 30 to 39 age category.
Complete results are online at www.zone4.ca , a website tracking races in provincial Zone 4 cross-country events.
Age Category Results:
Girls 7 and Under, 2.8 km
1. Lauren McKay — 23:38
2. Martina Gershon — 24:37
3. Julia Long — 27:30
Boys 7 and Under, 2.8 km
1. Michael Murdoch — 20:03
2. Owen Reith — 21:32
3. Ian Davidson — 25:00
Girls 8 to 13, 5.3 km
1. Akiko Clarke — 24:22
2. Tachona Jones — 25:22
3. Nicole Murdoch — 25:57
Boys 8 to 13, 5.3 km
1. Sam Morris — 21:12
2. Alex Gershon — 24:36
3. Braden Metza — 24:36
Disabled Sit Ski, 4 km
1. James Hustvedt —51:30
Women 18 and Over Recreation, 15 km
1. Jenn Armatage — 1:02:34
2. Maureen Harriman — 1:06:27
3. Heather Wood — 1:06:52
Men 18 and Over Recreation, 15 km
1. David Smith — 1:04:07
2. Craig MacKenzie — 1:04:55
3. Larry Jung — 1:10:39
Men 14 to 17 Recreation, 15 km
1. Logan Goodwin — 1:11.53
2. Nicholas Geddes — 1:13:43
3. Bobby Bunbury — 1:18:07
Women 18 to 29, 30 km
1. Tara Calvert — 1:50:48
2. Heather Lamson — 2:02:46
3. Sarah O’Byrne — 2:02:46
Men 18 to 29, 30 km
1. Colin McArthur — 1:37:47
2. Liam Fisher — 1:40:54
Women 30 to 39, 30 km
1. Tobi Henderson — 1:42:43
2. Anne Parent — 1:43:26
3. Sylvie Allen — 1:45:46
Men 30 to 39, 30 km
1. Glenn Bond — 1:23:16
2. Lars Ole Valoen – 1:23:23
3. Sten Grahn — 1:23:41
Women 40 to 49, 30 km
1. Carolyn Daubeny — 1:43:25
2. Brenda Davison — 2:02:09
3. Lisa Geddes — 2:12:27
Men 40 to 49, 30 km
1. Vesa Suomalainen — 1:23:29
2. John Aalberg — 1:23:54
3. Ron Carmichael — 1:28:56
Men 50 to 59, 30 km
1. Willian Letham — 1:36:53
2. David Bissett — 1:47:15
3. Hugh Fisher — 1:47:16
Women 60 to 69, 30 km
1. Hakan Lillquist — 2:07:29
Special mention also goes to Jackson Waller and Gabby Holland, the top boy and girl in the 4 to 5 age category, which is included in the 7 and Under group by Cross Country B.C.. In the 8 to 9 age group, the top boys were Braden Metza, Callum McKay, and Conrad Murdoch, and the top girls were Gabby Smith, Sarah Bower and Cassie Sachury. For age 10 to 11 it was Sam Morris, Alex Gershon and Adam Dean on the boys side, and Tachona Jones, Jennifer McTavish, and Katrina Widmaier for the girls. Also, in the 12 to 13 group, Luke Latin was the top boy, while the top girls were Akiko Clarke, Nikki Murdoch and Marlin Beswetherick.
