Thirteen members of the competitive Team went to the Haig Glacier in Kananaskis for a Training Camp in July, which was “pretty special,” he said.
The Training Centre is located at 10,000 feet, so the athletes gained some experience skiing at altitude.
One of the Club’s athletes, Kit Richmond, was attempting to qualify for the 2010 Winter Olympics as the Marmot newspaper went to press. Richmond, 25, competes in Classic Sprint; he’s been with the Club for four years.
“It’s nice because Kit went away to school on a full scholarship to Colorado,” Battison said. “He came back at the end of last year and joined us at Nationals.”
He sets a good example for the Club’s younger athletes, some of whom have seen Richmond compete at a World Cup Event.
The Strathcona Nordics continue to gain in popularity at Mount Washington; last year they were more than 500 strong, Battison said. The Jack Rabbits, junior and high performance programs are all gaining steadily.
Top juniors Andrea Lee and Freya Wafteneys were headed to Val Cartier, Que. in January to vie for a spot on the National Junior Team to go to the World Championships in Germany.
The Club has a lot of first- and second-year Juniors that will compete in B.C. Cup Races this year. They will be going to the Nationals in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory in March. “We’re taking the entire Race Team up for that Race,” Battison said.