"At least we got to race," said Team Canada member, and Yukon, cross country skier Dahria Beatty.

It was a season like no other for the Olympian due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Athletes had to deal with cancelled events and remain in limbo to see if they would get to race on certain weekends.

"It was very strange," said Beatty. "There was extra stress. There were limited races and that added to the desire to perform. There were so many unknowns with COVID regulations and we were constantly being tested."

For Beatty, the unknowns were difficult to manage because she said cross-country skiers are creatures of habit.

"We love having structured training schedules to adhere to," said Beatty. "We usually plan, weeks, months in advance. We didn't know what to prep for but the team did a good job of taking things day-by-day."

The World Cup races all happened in Europe, adding another difficult wrinkle for the non-European skiers to adjust to.

"We couldn't go home," said Beatty. "We had to be looking for safe settings. Countries didn't want you there unless you were racing.

"Because we were tested so much, there was the fear of getting a false positive and not being able to go home and being stuck in Europe. It was always looming over everything."

Despite the challenges away from the race-courses, Beatty finished the World Cup season with a bang. During the March 13-14 weekend in Engadin, Switzerland, Beatty posted two personal bests.

On Saturday, she raced to 23rd in the 10-kilometre classic mass start. The next day, she bested the mark skiing to 15th in the 30-kilometre pursuit.

"It was a nice way to end the season," said Beatty. "Prior to that, it was frustrating. I didn't feel able to capitalize on my full potential it didn't feel great.

"The results are awesome, but it was nice to feel like myself and a nice way to end positively."

Her 15th-place result tied her best performance in a World Cup competition and was her best placing in a distance race ever.

"I liked the courses," said Beatty. "They suited my style, they were rolling terrain with lots of changes. They were also at altitude and I have often raced well at altitude."

The week prior in Obsterdorf, Germany, Beatty skied to 34th in the 30 kilometre race. Her result in that race gave her confidence for the season's final competition.

"That was the toughest course with over 1,100 metres of climbing," said Beatty. "To have a strong result in that race was great."

During the last races, Beatty said she just laid it all out there.

"I just wanted to give it my all and have a race I was happy with," she said.

"I was just focused on the moment and gave it all I had. It worked out well."

Beatty said she usually prefers the sprint distances, it has been the area of cross country she has seen the most success. In offseason training, Beatty said, she focused on her distance skiing.

"I felt I had a strong training season," said Beatty. "I believed I could have good results in distance and put focus and value in it.

"That weekend supported that belief and my distance skiing came up a level."

It wasn't just Beatty who had posted personal best times in the COVID-shortened season. Her fellow Canadians also had strong performances.

"It was the strongest year we've had in a long time," said Beatty. "We scored World Cup points and there were personal bests. The whole team was feeding off each other.

"There were 10 of us and four women and four men had personal bests."

In World Cup races, in order to score points, an athlete has to place in the top 30.

Although cross country skiing is an individual sport, Beatty said there was a strong team dynamic.

"Having your teammates with you allows you to come back ready," said Beatty. "We help each other level up."

Now that the season is over, Beatty is currently completing her two-week self-isolation. Training plans through the summer are still unknown.

"Summer plans are TBD (to be decided)," said Beatty. "Team training is in the air with how to proceed, there are no firm plans yet."

Luckily for Beatty, who is back in Whitehorse, there is plenty of snow so she can continue training on skis. This can be doubly important as she heads into an Olympic year.