Local recreational skiers took to the slopes with some of the most competitive athletes in the area at the Mt. Lorne Ski Classic this past weekend.

Skiers ranging in age from three-years-old to over sixty participated in the local event.

With 149 registered races, it also brought out some of the top skiers in the area.

The turnout was the second highest in the history of the event. Last season 153 skiers registered for the race.

Jennifer Curtis, competitive skier and biathlete, was in attendance to compete in the 10-kilometre classic event.

Curtis is training for the upcoming Haywood Ski Nationals, which will take place in Quebec from March 17th to 24th.

She said the Mt. Lorne Ski Classic was a welcome reprieve from her traditional training, allowing her to enjoy a day on the hill and still focus on her technical training.

"I was competing for the intensity, strength and race practice,” she said. "It was more of a workout than a race for me.”

Fast conditions and relatively flat terrain allowed Curtis to double-pole her way through the course, which included the Marsh Lake and Mt. Lorne loppet.

"I'm still feeling it,” she said of the after-effects from 10-km of ski poling.

"I'm sore. It really works your arms and your abs.”

Curtis, who has been training everyday for nationals, is back onto her high intensity schedule and looking forward to the upcoming competition where she will be racing in the individual, 7.5-km sprint and relay races.

"I'm excited to get there,” she said. "I've trained a lot more this year and this summer than I have in the past and I feel like I'm ready for it.”

John Parry also took part in the event, racing in the men's open 10-km classic.

Parry will also be in Quebec for the Haywood Ski Nationals and utilized the Mt. Lorne event as further training and an opportunity to compete in his hometown.

"It was great to race back home,” he said. "I've been traveling quite a bit, racing around Western Canada and the U.S., so it was nice to come back to a race I've been doing since I was quite young and see some familiar faces.”

Parry has been traveling on the ski circuit since January, competing in events in Whistler, Canmore, before heading south for a ski-tour in Minneapolis.

Parry, who is coming off a series of Outside competitions, said he took a short break from training to get a refresher for the rest of the season.

"I love doing races like this,” he said. "I've been doing it since I was a kid, it's fun to see people you know, cheer on the little kids and have a bowl of chili afterward.”

Parry said the event also afforded an opportunity to socialize while still working on his skills.

"You race and you push hard but it's more of a social event and a chance to really enjoy that community centre they have up there,” he said.

Parry will be taking part in one race before the start of the nationals, the Tour of Anchorage, a 50-km event.

Billed as a premier ski marathon, the race is part of the American Ski Marathon Series, North America's longest running and largest citizen racing and touring series.

Parry said he's feeling good about his training and his current performance and he's hoping to achieve a top-10 finish in the men's distance race at nationals.

"I'm feeling really good, I was a little wiped out after the last event but I came home, took a little bit of time off and now I'm back in the full swing.

"I should be in top form for nationals.”