The Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club thanked the many sponsors and supporters that helped make the Haywood Ski Nationals a success Monday night.
The club held a reception at the MacBride Museum where Chief of Competition Claude Chabot thanked those who contributed to bringing the national event to Whitehorse.
Also speaking at the event was Madeleine Williams, who competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver last month in cross country skiing.
“Two weeks ago I became an Olympian,” Williams said.
Williams described the struggles that athletes go through to get funding, as they try to focus on their sport. She said many athletes don’t have the time to have even a part-time job if they want to get to the top of their sport.
The Olympian told the crowd that in her sport, it costs an extra $30,000 for equipment and other expenses, on top of training and money to live on.
Williams said she was lucky enough to have the support of friends and family, who have helped push her to the Olympic games.
The skier is familiar with the Yukon and has been welcomed by many as the girlfriend of world-class cross country skiing export Graham Nishikawa.
Williams said in her experience at different ski clubs around Canada, Whitehorse boasts an enormous club, for how small the town is.
“Per capita, Whitehorse is without a doubt the biggest ski club,” she said.
Williams is not alone in her praise of the ski trails found at Whitehorse. Fellow Olympian and gold medalist Chandra Crawford who is in town for the competition, said on Monday the trails have been incredible so far.
Crawford came in second place in the sprint races held on Sunday. The sprints were the first starts of the competition.
Williams said it is important to continue to support athletes, because many go on to inspire younger generations to continue an active lifestyle.
“Amateur athletes are role models,” she said.
After Williams’ speech, Chabot took the stage once again, where he introduced a scavenger hunt for the guests. Those who participated used the museum’s exhibits to answer questions for one of six 2010 Haywood Ski Nationals t-shirts.
The Haywood Ski Nationals continued this morning with the short distance classic.
On Wednesday the medium distance free technique races will begin at 10 a.m. with the awards ceremony at 2:30 p.m. Thursday will be an official training day for the athletes.
Friday will be the free technique individual sprints starting with the qualification rounds at 9:30 a.m. and the heats at 12 p.m. The awards ceremony will follow at 5 p.m.
Saturday will be another official training day, and the competition will finish up on Sunday with the mass start long distance classic at 10 a.m., with awards at 5:30 p.m.