Great White North National Championships: Sugar is Sweet (for some!)
By: Karl Saidla (2005/03/01)
The individual start classic races of the Canadian Nationals brought
some more of the sunny weather and sugary conditions that have been
here all week. As the temperature did not drop as low over night as it
had the previous days, the classic tracks were even softer than before.
Rock hard ice underneath the sugar on some of the more tricky downhill
sections did cause numerous falls and the occasional broken pole.
For some, like winner of the women’s open 5km, Dasha Gaiazova, the
sugar was sweet. 26 seconds back came the consistently impressive
junior skier, Perianne Jones, followed by Amanda Ammar a further 10
seconds behind.
Ivan Babikov showed everyone who is boss once again in the open men’s
7.5k classic, taking the win by 10 seconds over Dan Roycroft,
unbelievably off the plane from the World Championships the very
morning of the race. 1st year senior Dave Nighbor took third, 17
seconds behind Babikov. The top junior was Brent McMurtry, about a
minute off the winning pace.
Another great race was provided by Alex Harvey (son of the legendary
Pierre Harvey), who placed second amongst the juniors despite being
three seasons away from his last year as a junior.
Tomorrow’s pursuit start skating races promise to be exciting and
entertaining. The fields are competitive and deep, while the trails are
narrow, twisty, and icy. Time to tune those edges, and maybe the elbows
as well!
RESULTS: http://www.skinationals2005.com/xcs/results/