Cross Country Yukon

Cross Country Yukon is the Sport Governing Body for cross country skiing in the Yukon, with affiliate clubs in Whitehorse and rural communities such as Old Crow, Mount Lorne and Marsh Lake. It is a volunteer based organization that plans, evaluates, coordinates and administers various programs devoted to the promotion and development of cross country skiing in the Yukon - for all ages - both at the recreational and competitive level.

Latest News

> Posted January 16, 2012

Cross Country Canada Names Under-23 and Junior World Championship Teams

It is now official, 5 of the 16 skiers named to the Team that will represent Canada at the World Junior/Under 23 in Turkey are from the Whitehorse Ski Club. You should all feel very proud of such an achievement as this is a great community effort!

Cross Country Canada Names Under-23 and Junior World Championship Teams

> Posted January 15, 2012

Historic finish for Yukon skiers at the World Junior Trials in Whistler

It was an amazing last day of racing for the Yukon skiers at the World Junior Trials in Whistler, BC.

The first race of the day involved the open men competing on a 15 km individual classic race. David Greer and Knute Johnsgaard who needed a good result to secure a spot on the team that will represent Canada in Turkey next month both delivered great performances. David was the fasted Under 23 skier and 3rd in the Open Men category. Knute was 2nd for a third race this week in the Open Junior category. Both skiers should see their selection confirmed this week.

David Greer and Knute Johnsgaard on the podium:

Following the men, the women competed on a 10 km interval start classic race. A similar scenario resulted with Dahria Beatty easily winning the gold in the Junior Women category and Emily Nishikawa winning the gold in the Open Women category.

History will be made later this week when the team is announced as never before have we seen so many Yukon skiers nominated to represent Canada at an international competition.

Dahria Beatty, Janelle Greer, Emily Nishikawa, David Greer and Knute Johnsgaard should all get their confirmation in the next few days about the Championships.

Haywood RACE Report: Whitehorse dominate trials

> Posted January 14, 2012

Another Good Day for Yukon skiers in the Skate Sprint at the NORAM in Whistler

The weather in the Callaghan Valley returned to its usual self with heavy moist snow for most of the day.

The competiton today consisted of an individual skate sprint that took place in less than ideal conditions with heavy snow accumulating on the course during the races.

It was another good day for the Yukon skiers. Janelle Greer capturing the gold in the Junior Women category securing a spot for the Team that will represent Canada in Turkey next month at the World Junior/Under 23. She will join 2 other Yukon skiers that managed to secure a spot by winning a race yesterday. Both Dahria Beatty and Emily Nishikawa will also be part of the team.

Here are the result summary from today's sprint race;

Janelle Greer 1st in the Junior Women
Knute Johnsgaard 2nd in the Junior men
Graham Nishikawa 2nd in the Open men
Dahria Beatty 4th in the Junior Women
Emily Nishikawa 7th in the Open Women 
Jeff Wood 14th in the Junior Men
Lee Hawkings 20nd in the Open Men
John Parry 21st in the Open Men
Colin Abbott 23rd in the Open Men
Holly Bull 30th in the Junior Women
David Greer 30th in the Open Men
Fabian Brook 41st in the Junior Men
Logan Potter 43nd in the Open Men

> Posted January 13, 2012

Great first day at the World Junior Trials/Under 23 for Yukon skiers

It was just below zero and sunny, with hard packed klister conditions greeting the racers as they prepared for the first of the Haywood NorAm trial races, a skiathlon format, with a classic leg, followed by a skating leg.

In the Jr. Women's class, 10k race, the future of the Canadian women's team was on display as 8 of the top 10 racers came from the J1 class, with 2, or in several cases more, years of junior eligibility remaining.

Whitehorse Ski club did well with Dahria Beatty dominating both sections of the race, to finish 37 seconds ahead of Mont Ste Anne's, Anne-Marie Comeau. Comeau narrowly beat Janelle Greer, also of Whitehorse, who had closed a significant gap over the second half of the race, to finish a 10th of a second back in 3rd.

With the win Beatty, who has 2 years of junior eligibility remaining, should be guaranteed a spot at the World Junior Championships next month. It will be a return to the W Jr's for Dahria who made the team in 2010, but missed out in 2011.

The men's side saw Raphaël Couturier of Skibec dominate with almost a
30 second lead over Whitehorse Ski club member Knute Johnsgaard.  Alex Mahoney from Rocky Mountain Racers, who had been in the top 3, took a wrong turn in the stadium and was disqualified in a jury decision.
Alexis Turgeon of Skinouk, finished 3rd, unofficially 25 seconds behind Johnsgaard.

Couturier, looks to have staked his place at the World Juniors, continuing the strong early season form he had shown in the December Haywood races.

It was Whitehorse at the top again in the Senior Women's races as Emily Nishikawa won by a 6 second margin over Alysson Marshall of Larch Hills.  Emily is a U23 eligible athlete and will likely be heading to Turkey and looking to better her 16th place result at last year's U23 World Championps.

The 3rd place skier was Alana Thomas from Nakkertok, with Annika Hicks
(Canmore) and Marlis Kromm (Foothills) in 5th and 7th the next best placed U23 skiers.

The men's race started with a pack of skiers together on the first lap. Gradually a gap built to the lead as Graham Nishikawa of Whitehorse pushed the pace, with Kevin Sandau and Brent McMurtry of Foothills and Graham Killick of Banff forming the lead group.

At the 15k exchange Graeme Killick dropped a bit from the lead group, who would decide the podium positions. As they entered the stadium it was a sprint to the finish between club team mates Sandau and McMurtry, with Kevin Sandau winning by 1/2 of a second. Graham Nishikawa was 3rd about 15 seconds back.

30 seconds later Graeme Killick came across the line in 4th and the top U23 skier. Brian McKeever (Foothills), who had been ill earlier in the week, finished 5th followed by David Greer of Whitehorse in 6th (2nd U23). Jess Cockney came through in 8th overall as the 3rd U23 skier.

Dahria Beatty 1st in the Junior Women 10 km skiathlon
Emily Nishikawa 1st in the Open Women (1st in under 23) 15 km skiathlon
Knute Johnsgaard 2nd in the Junior men 20 km skiathlon
Janelle Greer 3rd in the Junior Women 10 km skiathlon
Graham Nishikawa 3rd in the Open men skiathlon
David Greer 6th in the Open Men (2nd in under 23) 30 km skiathlon
John Parry 10th in the Open Men 30 km skiathlon
Fabian Brook 22nd in the Junior Men 20 km skiathlon
Lee Hawkings 22nd in the Open Men 30 km skiathlon
Jeff Wood 24th in the Junior Men 20 km skiathlon
Holly Bull 30th in the Junior Women 10 km skiathlon
Logan Potter 32nd in the Open Men 30 skiathlon

Dahria and Janelle on the podium in the first race of the day:

> Posted October 21, 2011

Healthy Eating for Athletes

Registered Dietitian Kim Neufeld gave a presentation to Blue Squad skiers recently on what to eat before, during, and after training and why this is important. Feeling like you just don't have the fuel to go that long race, download Nutrition - Yukon Ski Team Presentation 2011-10-20.pdf to see best nutrition practices to enhance performance.

> Posted Sept 2, 2011

DEVELOPMENT SQUADS REGISTRATION: TUESDAY SEPT 6th 4:30 in banquet room of Mt Mac

What to bring to registration:

1) cheques (need 3) or cash (no credit/debit)
2) child's health care #
3) See registration packages on your representative squad pages.

Please call Amanda at 332-4734 with any questions