As cold temperatures cancelled local selection races for Yukon's 2011 Canada Winter Games cross-country team entry, for the eight hopefuls looking to fill four remaining spots it comes down to two races at the beginning of January, says head coach Alain Masson.

"We'll have the majority of our athletes in Thunder Bay for the world juniors and we have a few university students competing in Rumford, Maine,” Masson told the Star. "And we'll make the final selections based on these results.”

Solid cross-country race performances at the national level turned in last season by six Yukoners have already guaranteed them places on the squad.

They include Emily Nishikawa, Janelle Greer and Dahria Beatty on the women's side and David Greer, Colin Abbott and Knut Johnsgaard for the men's.

But two spots per side remain to be filled and Masson said the competition is steep, particularly for the men where five skiers are challenging for a chance to represent the territory at the Canada Winter Games in Halifax this February.

In Thunder Bay, skiers Lee Hawkins, Logan Potter and Jeff Wood will compete at the world juniors and in Rumford, John Parry and Ray Sabo will ski in the U.S. Cross Country Championships. Masson will select the top two males based on results from both races.

On the ladies' side, Kendra Murrray, Katie Peters and Holly Bull will race in Thunder Bay for the two remaining spots.

In the leadup to both races, Masson said his fingers are crossed for some warmer temperatures this week and next, "so we can do some quality training.”

International rules prohibit racing when the mercury dips below -20 Celsius because of the risk of lung and respiratory system damage.

"There's been fantastic snow condition and the trails at (Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club) have been groomed really well,” said Masson. "We just haven't been able to do intensive work to get ready.”