Submitted
The Nechako Nordics biathlon members had a great weekend in Burns Lake at the Stride and Glide BC Biathlon Cup event the weekend of January 13, 14.
Over two days of competition against the best in the Province there were some notable podium performances. The team was coached by Gerd Erasmus, and greatly enjoyed the inaugural event at the recently upgraded biathlon facility at the Omineca Ski Club. Saturday opened to excellent conditions, and even with new snow, provided fast and fierce skiing on very well groomed tracks. Sunday brought the beginnings of the deep freeze, and the competition started right at the bottom end of the legal temperature of –20C. Things did however warm up a bit as the competition proceeded, so that the younger competitors started at about –15C.
In the Masters Men category Greg Tone hit the medals twice, with a first in the Individual competition on Saturday, and Silver in the Sprint on Sunday. Marcus Klein just missed a medal on day one, with a fourth place and collected the Bronze on day two. Sarah McBride skied fast to a third in Individual and Silver in the Sprint, and Doug McComb rounded out the medals with a bronze on day one.
This was also a qualifying event for selection to the BC team going to the National Championships in Quebec later in the year. Leah Forsdick, formerly of Vanderhoof, managed to maintain her eligibility for this event.
The next happening in the ski calendar will be taking place in our own town, with the Nechako Open ski race at the NVSA grounds on Saturday the 28th of January. Spectators are welcome, with no charge to see some of the best athletes around perform on our local snow. Call Paul Collard for more information.