For the first time in club history, the Whistler Nordics sent a youth team to the cross-country nationals, which took place in Canmore last week. Clubs and provincial teams from across Canada were represented, and categories were massive.
The team did surprisingly well, according to Whistler Nordics Devo Team coach Maria Lundgren.
"We were hoping for a top 20 and we had more than that," she said. "A top 20 would have been really good, so we were blown away with the results they got. They performed so well. It was a long week of racing for young athletes, and while we were training well I didn't know how well it was going to hold up until the last race, which was actually their best race.
"It's nice to see all the training pay off, and all season we've been going to B.C. Cups. This is the best thing to happen at the end of the season, to finish the nationals with good results and new energy, and hopefully we'll step up training even more now in the summer."
While competition was tough, Lundgren said a few of her skiers did better than kids skiing with the B.C. team - Jenya Nordin was second among B.C. athletes, and Nicki Murdoch fourth.
Nicki Murdoch was 25th in the opening free technique 5 km race for junior girls, 15th in the classic 10 km and 16th in the free 7.5 km.
Jenya Nordin was 21st in the free 5 km for juvenile girls, 17th in the classic 10 km and 15th in the free technique 7.5 km.
Lauren Doak was 35th in free 5 km for juvenile girls, 23rd in classic 10 km and 23rd in free 7.5 km.
Austin Reith was 50th in free for juvenile boys, as well as 33rd in classic.
