Sovereign Lake NorAms 2012
By:  Lee Hawkings   (2012/12/11)

This past weekend while all eyes were on the Quebec World Cups, most of Canada’s top domestic racers were actually on the other side of the country in British Columbia competing at the second stop on the Haywood NorAm Cup Series, hosted at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre. Three XC Ottawa athletes made the trip, Sheila Kealey, and myself (Lee Hawkings) were racing while Matthias Purdon was assistant coaching for Team Ontario.

 As usual, Sovereign Lakes and the nearby Silverstar Mountain resort had perfect skiing conditions with a ton of snow, warm temperatures and bombproof tracks. The two race weekend consisted of a mass start classic race and an individual start skate race (both races same distance (Males- 15km, Females- 10km).

 Racing at this venue can be very hit or miss, especially this early in the season as it is quite high elevation and everyone adjusts differently to altitude. However, this year seemed to be a little better than most as almost everyone at the races had already skied the weekend before in Canmore (http://www.xcottawa.ca/articles.php?id=2523 and http://www.xcottawa.ca/articles.php?id=2525) which was also at a pretty solid elevation.

 In the classic race Sheila ended up 10^th in the Open Women and 17^th overall, while I finished up 20^th in Open men (14^th Canadian) and 21^st overall. Other Ottawa racers had great days as well with Nakkertok’s Patrick Stewart-Jones finishing as top Canadian and 2^nd overall, losing only to Swedish National Team Skier Jens Eriksson who gapped the field on the third lap. Another highlight was Nakkertok’s Ezekiel Williams who finished just ahead of myself, giving him the win in the competitive Junior Men Category. Patrick’s sister Katherine Stewart-Jones also had an impressive day finishing up 6^th overall, and 3^rd Junior women. XC Ottawa Alumni Colin Abbott now a member of the up and coming Yukon Elite Squad finished an impressive 13^th overall. Alumni Alana Thomas also had a solid day finishing up 10^th overall, 7^th open women, as she prepares for her World Cup Debut in Canmore next week.

Classic Race Results

http://zone4.ca/results.asp?id=5164

In the skate race Sheila had an even better race finishing an amazing 12^th overall and 9^th Open Women. I had a tougher time of it finishing 32^nd overall, 25^th open men. Nakkertoks’ Ezekiel Williams again had a great day finishing 14^th overall and 2^nd in Junior Men.

Skate Race Results

http://zone4.ca/results.asp?id=5161

Here are a few picture of the weekend. Thanks to Grant Abbott for all the action shots!

Thanks for Reading!

Matthias working hard waxing for Team Ontario

Mass Start Classic with Alumni Colin Abbott (bib 16 Yukon Elite Squad) and myself behind him

Me following Yukon Elite Squads John Parry and Nakkertok's Ezekiel Williams down the hill

Winner of the Day, Jens Eriksson of Sweden, coming into the finish

Patrick Stewart-Jones (black suit) charging to the line to take second place ahead of Graeme Killick, Michael Somppi and Kevin Sandau

Ezekiel Williams and I racing to the finish with Colin Ferrie right on our tails

Sheila Kealey skiing the hill out of the stadium

Former XC Ottawa'er Colin Abbott skiing up the hill in the skate race.

Me struggling up the last hill in the skate race

Sheila and I after the skate race and a solid weekend of beautiful skiing

Thanks again for reading and I'm hoping I can send some of this snow east for you guys!