Up in the mountains near Vernon in British Columbia’s Interior, last-minute preparations were being made on Friday for the national Olympic trials for cross-country skiing. Just 10 days before the scheduled races, a lack of snow in Prince George prompted the trials to be relocated to the backup site at Sovereign Lake Nordic Club. Marcus Boyle, the club’s volunteer and event coordinator, mentioned that everyone came together to ready the mountain for the trials beginning on Sunday. Boyle emphasized that the event was focused on aiding the athletes in achieving their Olympic aspirations.
Sovereign Lake Club expressed disappointment for the team at Prince George’s Caledonia Nordic Ski Centre, acknowledging the effort put into the initial preparations there. However, with over 100 Olympic hopefuls set to compete in the trials for Team Canada, Sovereign Lake was motivated to step in and host the event. Boyle highlighted the club’s busy season, having already hosted several prominent cross-country and biathlon events in recent weeks. Despite the venue change, all volunteer positions were swiftly filled, showcasing remarkable enthusiasm among the volunteers.
Boyle and the volunteer team have been working tirelessly to prepare the trails for the national competition. While Prince George lacked sufficient snow for hosting the trials, the Silverstar Mountain area, where the Sovereign Lake trails are located, has received ample snowfall. Boyle noted that grooming the snow has been a bit challenging due to its wet and sticky nature. Crews have been operating the groomers daily at 1 a.m. to ensure the racecourse is in optimal condition.
The Olympic trials are scheduled to commence on December 14 and conclude on December 16, with more than 100 athletes vying for 10 spots on Canada’s cross-country team for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Team Yukon coach Jen MacKeigan emphasized the importance of staying calm amidst uncertainties like last-minute venue changes, advising athletes to focus on what they can control. Despite the sudden shift from Prince George to Sovereign Lake, skier Taschi Klaschka from Vernon mentioned that most competing athletes are familiar with Sovereign Lake’s trails, having trained there for early snow camps.
Klaschka highlighted the community support at Sovereign Lake Nordic Club, expressing gratitude for their continuous backing of the skiing community. He also mentioned the convenience of being able to sleep in his own bed before pursuing a spot on Canada’s Olympic cross-country team.