XC Ottawa managed to get in touch with a number of prominent skiers who grew up skiing in Ottawa. We asked them for their thoughts on the season just passed, their goals for next year, and their focus for the upcoming National Championships. We’ll post a new one every day as Nationals goes on!
Today we are talking to Perianne Jones. Peri is from Almonte and grew up skiing with the Nakkertok Ski Club. She now lives in Canmore (AB) where she lives with Olympic Gold medalist Chandra Crawford. They should be a deadly duo at Vancouver in 2010.
Question: How has your season progressed up to this point? Have you been happy with the way things have gone? What were the highlights of you season?
Answer: To be honest up to
this point my season has been pretty bad. I’ve had a few ok races,
but my plan is to make the national championships the highlight of my
season. If I had to name a highlight I’d say the sprint at U-23’s
in Slovenia. The qualifier was great, and then I didn’t do quite as
well in the heats.
Question: What are your plans
for next season? Do you have any specific training or competition goals
for the spring/summer, and for next winter?
Answer: My spring goal is to
relax, recover and take lots of time off. This summer I’ll focus on
strength (specifically upper body) this always seems to be the goal,
and it is getting better little by little.
Question: Are you going to
Nationals this year? Do you enjoy racing at Nationals, and if so, why?
Answer: There has been a bit
of a break in our racing schedule with the Olympics going on, so I can’t
wait to race at Nationals! After watching the Olympics who isn’t excited
to race?
Question: What are your goals
for Nationals? What race will you focus on at Nationals, and why?
Answer: My main goal is to
put in some solid distance races. I’ll focus on all of the races equally
I think, except maybe the 30km. That one will be more of a learning
experience seeing as I’ve only ever done one other one in my
life.
Question: What was your favourite
National Championships you’ve ever been to? Why?
Answer: Canmore! We had lots
of time to socialize because of the cold weather, and then the races
were good too.
Question: Do you like Lappe
Nordic Centre (host of this year’s Nationals)? If so, why?
Answer: I’ve only skied at
Lappe in 2000 when they hosted the Jr Nationals, and from what I can
remember it was awesome, how can you go wrong with Finnish pancakes?
Question: Who are your picks
to win the following races:
Men’s Club Relay: Foothills Nordic
Women’s Club Relay: Edmonton
Nordic
Men’s Sprint: Sean Crooks
Women’s Sprint: Dasha, but
I’m going to give her a run for her money!
Men’s 50k: Dan Roycroft
Women’s 30k: Milaine Theriault