The World Junior/U23 Championship team left for Seefeld, Austria on February 12th, to take part in a six day acclimatization camp, before heading to Romania today.  Two BC athletes are members of the team – Hannah Mehain (Sovereign Lake Nordic Club, Vernon) and Julien Locke (Black Jack Cross Country Ski Club, Rossland).

Link to Report

Warm temperatures that have interfered with snowmaking and little natural snow has caused headaches for the organizers and has caused the skiathlon to be changed to a mass start skate race.

The lack of snow is also resulting in a change for the relay, to 1 technique only, (classic if possible).

The snow challenges are of course the same for everyone and it is the skiers that are able to stay positive and adapt to the circumstances that will be successful. A further challenge for the team will be the fact that the trails won't be open for skiing until official training on Sunday, so other methods of preparation will need to be employed.

The trip is being led by François Pepin of CNEPH and his colleague, Charles Castonguay will be in charge of the junior team, while Victor Wiltmann, NDC T Bay will have responsibility for the U23 athletes.

The ski prep team includes: Simon Boisvert, Camille Cheskey and Anthony Gauvin, while Kieran Jones (Nakkertok) and Amanda Deuling (Yukon) are participating on the trip as a coach development experience.

Racing begins on Monday with a skate sprint