Whitehorse's Emily Nishikawa and Janelle Greer each overcame obstacles to earn the chance to represent Canada at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Estonia on Jan. 25-31.

The two qualified for the national team based on results from the Haywood NorAm World Junior/U23 Trials at the Lappe Nordic Ski Centre in Thunder Bay, Ont., on Jan. 6-9.

Nishikawa earned her spot on the U23 team with a fifth-place finish overall in the 15-kilometre pursuit race in the senior female category – tops for the U23 – with a total time of 49:13.3 on opening day, 41 seconds behind Olympian Dasha Gaiazova.

"I had a great race on Thursday, everything kind of came together for me, and I'm really excited to go to Estonia and represent Canada,” Nishikawa said.

Greer earned her spot on the world junior team by finishing fifth overall in the 10-km pursuit in the junior female category with a total time of 33:26 and second in the junior female 1.2 km classic sprint.

"I just gave everything I had, so I'm really happy with that result in the skate race, for sure,” Greer said.

Both skiers are currently training at the Alberta World Cup Academy in Canmore before leaving for Europe on Sunday for two weeks of training and competition.

Greer missed out on qualifying for last year's World Junior Championships in Hinterzarten, Germany, after a cold hampered her performance in Quebec.

"I missed out last year because I had bad trials races. I was sick at the time. So it was hard to race at my best. That was disappointing. It's nice to be able to go again this year,” Greer said.

That lost opportunity was especially disappointing because Greer had qualified for the world juniors the previous year in France.

Due to the turbulent course the past few years have taken, Greer said nerves heading into Thunder Bay were playing on her mind.

"I would think about it in the summer, like in June, and I would get nervous: ‘OK, I can't think about that yet, it's six months away,'” Greer said, adding that she made a big effort to stay healthy for the races.

"I was trying to stay healthy the whole year; and it's also definitely a lot of mental preparation. I'm not one to get too nervous, but the week before, the night before the race, I try not to think about it too much, because then I would get nervous, have a bad sleep.

"I think I get more excited, I guess. I'm just focused on who I'm skiing with and who you can catch in front of you.”

Competing again at the world juniors will present a similar dynamic.

Greer said she has a better idea of the field.

"The first time I went I just had no idea how I was supposed to do compared to other countries,” she said.

"This year I have a little bit more of an idea, but it's different for everyone every year, so it's still hard to judge.

"Even last time, I didn't get nervous for any of the races, because there were no expectations; I just knew

I had to go out and do the best I could, which I did. But you just get more excited for the race than nervous because you just have no idea what's going to happen.”

Nishikawa will be making her second-consecutive trip to the U23 World Championships after competing in Germany last year, when she advanced into the quarterfinal heats of the sprint event and eventually finished 27 overall.

"Last year was my first year racing in Europe, so now I know the feel of it and I have a little more experience, hoping to put together a good race, have fun and hope we get some good results,” Nishikawa said.

Qualifying for the U23 World Championships was especially sweet for Nishikawa after suffering a shoulder injury for much of the fall.

"It's getting much better, and it's not too much of an issue anymore,” Nishikawa said.

"I'm pretty much back to normal now.

"It was definitely different training than I would have normally done, but you got to work with what you have, basically.”

Cross Country Yukon head coach Alain Masson agreed that Nishikawa's and Greer's previous experience in Europe should bode well for strong performances later this month.

"It's an advantage, just dealing with the time change, the travel, the slightly different conditions in Europe,” Masson said.

"Participating in major events, it's always good to do it more than once, it should be easier and they should be better prepared.”

Added Masson: "Representing your country at a World Championships event is a huge accomplishment for any skier. This is a great endorsement of two fine athletes.”