The Yukon cross-country ski season came to a close over the weekend with over 80 skiers taking to the Mt. Mac trails for the Yukon championships.

The fastest woman of the day was Dahria Beatty, who completed the 7.5-kilometre course in just over 26 minutes. Masters skier Stephen Waterreus was the fastest male, clocking a time of 30:59 in the 10-km trail.

Stephen and Dahria were awarded the Gordon Taylor Memorial trophy for their efforts.

"We knew Dahria would be the fastest woman out there,” said Claude Chabot, executive director of the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski club. "There was no surprise there.”

Chabot said Wattereus, who works with the national ski team as a massage therapist, was also expected to post one of the fastest times.

"He's a perennial winner in these races so it was really nice to see him on the trail,” he said. "He sure is quick.”

The skiers were greeted by perfect conditions after a stretch of warm weather caused some concern.

"Weather is always a worry with these events but it couldn't have been better,” said Chabot.

"Perfect snow and perfect weather. The trails were great.”

Cross Country Yukon held an award ceremony following the races and nearly $6,000 in cash prizes were handed out to the top-tier skiers.

The nominations were based on the top-10 performances at the nationals, with the big winner being Emily Nishikawa.

In March, Nishikawa won gold in the senior women's 10-km race at the Haywood Ski Nationals in Quebec, a race that she described as the best of her life.

"She had an awesome nationals and a great season,” said Chabot.

"The awards are a way of recognizing the athletes that are doing really well. These are the ones with the very high training expenses. It gives them recognition for their efforts but it also recognizes the expense of being a high-end athlete.”

"The money helps offset the costs associated with competing at that level,” said Alain Masson, head coach of the cross-country ski team.

"So it's a way we try and help our athletes finically. I think it was the most money we have awarded because it was one of our most successful championships ever.”

The money is accumulated through Cross-Country Yukon's surplus and general fundraising, said Chabot.

In other categories, the atom boys 1.5-km event was won by Sullivan Bond in 5:45, while Emilienne Roberts took home gold for atom girls with a time of 5:56.

In the pee-wee category Liam Mather topped the 2.5-km race in a time of 10:22 and Regan Fuerstner raced to first place on the girls side with a time of 10:34.

Juvenile skiers competed in a 7.5-km distance, with Caelan McLean (23:59) and Zoe Painter (32:31) bringing home the gold medals.

Junior boys raced 10-km with Fabian Brook winning in 31:23. Lois Johnston won the Masters Women 7.5 K race in 31:07.

Among the younger participants, midget skiers Ian Hogeboom-Burr and Hannah Shier topped the male and female fields with times of 18:02 and 19:12. Their names will now grace the Schiffkorn trophy, awarded to the fastest midget skiers.

The Grey Mountain Lions Club, the race series sponsor, hosted a barbecue recognizing the efforts of the volunteers following the races.

"It's been a really awesome year at the club,” said Chabot.

"We've had perfect conditions all winter, great weather and super snow and maybe even four more weeks of skiing left.”