When it comes to Cross Country Skiing….television wins. This sport use to be about long distance classic skiing. Pretty tough to follow with TV. The new and sexy skiing is skate sprints…800 meters races of skier directly skiing against other skiers. Fast, thrilling…roller derby on skis.
This past weekend was the Cross Country skiing events for the Ontario Winter Games. The Games do really take place until March but the first week in March is the National Championships in Whitehorse so the skiing was moved up to January.
I volunteered as a starter. There were over 100 participants from throughout the Province. Serious competition for sure. All skiers race individually against the clock to establish their place in the heats. Once done, skiers are grouped into a race of six. The faster to advance to the next round.
As a starter, I get to talk to all the kids…briefly anyway. One guy comes up to the line and I notice he is from Thunder Bay and his last name is Pendziwol. I ask him if he has an aunt in the Yukon and low and behold…he does. Small world, Donna!
Next weekend is the Muskoka Loppet. We sure could use some fresh snow!
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