The Grey Mountain Lions Club Yukon Cross Country Ski Championships were held on Saturday. The weather cooperated, as it did not drop below -15 C, the cutoff for the younger racers.

Yukon Ski Team coach Alain Masson said the races ran smoothly with no issues, and that every race was able to be run.

The weather conditions at Mount MacIntyre were -15 C and overcast, with fresh snow and the wind blowing north. Masson said the conditions made the skiing difficult for all the racers.

“When it is cold with fresh snow it is always slower,” said Masson. “It is a lot of work for the skiers, who were doing the skate technique. But everyone had to race in the same conditions, so everybody got challenged.”

Despite the conditions, Masson said he saw good levels of skiing.

“There were a lot of good races,” he said, “with a good level of skiing.”

There were four races held on Saturday with different age groups competing.

The first race held was the 2.5-kilometre free mass start for peewee and mini-midget boys and girls.

Colin Diamond was the first mini-midget boy to complete the race in a time of 9:37.8. Nicolas Giangrande, 10:00.8, and Heron Land-Gillis, 10:44.0, rounded out the top three.

Cheyenne Tirschmann was the first mini-midget girl across the finish line in 10:44.3. Sarah Svoboda completed the race in 11:04.6 and Emma Waldron came third in 12:08.5.

Logan Tirschmann, 11:49.9, was the top-finishing pee-wee boy. Niamh Hupé was the top placing pee-wee girl in a time of 13:06.4.

In the 1.2-kilometre free mass start race the pee-wee, and one atom, racers did two laps of 600-metres. Sitka Land-Gillis was the top finishing boy completing the loops in a time of 2:37.3. Emily Kralisch-Seguin, 5:14.4, was the first girl across the line.

The midget boys and girls had one more race of 3.75-kilometres. Completing it in a time of 14:15.3, Felix Masson was the top finishing boy. Abigail Jirousek edged out the second place skier, Constance Lapointe, in a time of 14:39.2.

The 7.5-kilometre free consisting of two 3.75-kilometre loops featured seven different categories competing at the same distance.

Derek Deuling won the junior boys category in a time of 21:55.3. Sasha Masson came second, 1:55.9 behind the winning time. Jamie Phillips-Freedman, 24:11.8, rounded out the top three.

Colin Abbott took the top spot in the open men division, completing the 7.5-kilometre race in 21:36.7. Caelan McLean and Matthias Purdon finished second and third respectively.

The masters men race was won by Brian Horton, who finished well ahead of his other competitors with a winning time of 24:50.8. Simon Lapointe grabbed second in 27:38.2 and Stuart Hamilton, 28:39.4 got third.

The juvenile boys, the last of the male categories, was won by Curtis Cash in 26:35.8. Cash edged out second-place finisher Noah Connell by 39.7. Third place went to Isidore Champagne who crossed the end line in 28:51.7.

Sonjaa Schmidt won the junior girls top prize, completing the course in a time of 28:36.0. Dahlia Lapointe came second in a time of 31:08.0, 2:32.0 behind the winning time. The only other competitor in the junior girls age group, Emma Marnik, did not finish the race.

The top juvenile girl was Bella Mouchat. She won the division in a time of 29:27.6. Maude Molgat, 31:06.2 grabbed the second podium spot and Isla Hupé rounded out the top three with a time of 33:17.1.

The final women’s category, masters women, was won by Lucy Steele Masson, in a time of 29:35.5, who finished well ahead of the competition. Laura Salmon got the second spot with a time of 33:41.9. Lois Johnston got the third position, wrapping up her day with a time of 34:40.9.

The Championships offered a more difficult course than compared to other years.

“We were testing a new course,” said Masson. “It is a great opportunity for the race organizers to see how the course works. The most difficult thing in our sport is the uphill climbs. The new course combined more uphills than previous years.”

The trails used around Mount McIntyre have not been changed since the Canada Winter Games were hosted in Whitehorse in 2007, and no longer meet the standard to host national races.

“The trails we use for national or international races have a standard,” said Masson. “The standards change so we are looking to upgrade the trails. The standard is set by the Fédération Internationale de Ski, so we are looking to reach the level in the next few years.”

With changes coming to the trails, Masson says they are eyeing a bid to host a National Ski Championship.

“We are looking to 2022 to bid on a National Ski Championship,” said Masson. “It is good exposure for the athletes, coaches, organizers and the volunteers to the highest levels of skiing. As well, when we travel Outside, we usually go with a team of 10. It will allow family and friends to watch their athlete compete.”

For all the skiers, Masson says it is always a good opportunity for them to get experience in an official race.

Some of the skiers who competed in the Yukon championships will next be headed to Collingwood, Ont., for what will be the last race in finalizing the team for the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta.

Currently, there are eight skiers locked in for the Yukon Ski Team headed to the Games, but there are two more spots for one more male and female cross-country skier. The CWG limits the provinces and territories to a team of 10, five males and females.

The skiers chosen to represent the Yukon have been chosen based on results and points, and Masson says they have a pretty good idea about who will fill the last two spots.

The skiers’ results from Collingwood and the Games will determine the skiers going to the national championships.