The 2021 Yukon Ski Marathon had a different feel to it this year, but it still happened Saturday despite continuing COVID-19 restrictions.

Instead of a mass start, athletes in the Ski Marathon competed in a unique event laid out on the ski trails. There were specific timed segments for skiers to challenge themselves and create friendly competition with their skiing counterparts.

The goal was to have a safe, socially distanced event on the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski trails.

Participants had a choice of three distances – 39, 26, and 10 kilometres.

Because there wasn’t a mass start, skiers were given 10-minute windows to arrive and then depart on their chosen distance.

Each race distance used time sticks and had different time segments. When a skier reached a time segment, they would dip their time stick to mark their time.

All the races began and ended in the stadium. Upon arriving back in the ski stadium, the skiers had to pull up a face covering.

Results:

Results included: General Classification - winners with the best cumulative total of timed segments; King/Queen of the Mountain - cumulative total of segments with significant climbs; Sprint Champs - cumulative total for undulating segments; and Crazy Canuck - cumulative total for downhill segments.

Colin Abbott was the General Classification winner of the senior male 39 kilometre category. His total time was 48:40. Only a 1:41 off the winning pace was Caelan Pangman McLean while Matthias Purdon came in third.

Abbott swept the other three award categories as well.

The General Classification winner of the 39 kilometre senior female division was former Olympian Emily Nishikawa in 55:13. Coming in second was Emilie Stewart-Jones, 1:01:08, and Kristenn Magnusson was third.

Nishikawa also took the Queen of the Mountain and Sprint awards. Stewart-Jones was the Crazy Canuck.

Jake Paleczny skied his way to the top of the podium in the 26 kilometre senior male category. The top time was 35:33. Richard Zaidan, 37:22, earned second place and Charles Kalinsky earned third.

Paleczny, like Abbott, swept all the award categories on Saturday.

The General Classification winner of the 26 kilometre senior female race was Kate Mason in 33:25. A little over two minutes after was Bella Mouchat in second and Lucy Steele Masson placed third.

Along with the General Classification award, Mason also took the Queen of the Mountain and Sprint honours. Mouchet was the Crazy Canuck winner.

It was a tight race in the 10 kilometre junior male division. Simon Connell took the General Classification in 11:45. A minute behind was Daniel Phillips-Freedman, while Jonah McConnell was only 1:15 off the winning pace.

Connell swept the rest of the awards.

Constance Lapointe earned the top podium position in the junior female category in 12:56. Abigail Jirousek was eight seconds off the winning time, while third-place finisher Minty Bradford was a second off of grabbing second.

Lapointe was also the Queen of the Mountain and Crazy Canuck. Sophia Giangrande took the Sprint award.

Coralie Ullyett was the 10 kilometre senior female overall winner in 31:19. Not far off the winning pace was Natasha Rumsey.

Ullyett earned the other three awards as well.