Strathcona Nordics racers brought hardware back to the Island from the Cross Country Ski Nationals in Whistler Olympic Park.
Andrea Lee of Black Creek picked up two golds and Avalon Wasteneys of Campbell River brought home a bronze.
Lee, who now trains at the National Development Centre in Thunder Bay and additionally skis for the Lakehead University team where she is currently studying, picked up a gold in team sprints and a gold in the five kilometre skate.
Members of the Strathcona Nordics were thrilled to see their clubmate race and win in the university series.
Wasteneys won a bronze in the classic sprints, persisting through a fiercely competitive field of 75 juvenile racers in the quarter, semi, and final heats.
“Avalon has incredible natural ability,” says head coach Dave Battison says. “She took all her training, all the things we’ve been working on, and she executed them perfectly.”
When the team learned that Wasteneys was moving into the heats, Coach Battison declared, “We’re going to the show!” as he dug deep into his wax arsenal.
Across the five race events, all 17 members of the team enjoyed shining moments and many personal best races. The young team looks forward to a bright future racing at provincial and national levels.
The Strathcona Nordics are now preparing for the 31st Annual Vancouver Island Loppet on April 13. For more information and to register see the website. StrathconaNordics.com