It has been an exciting few weeks in cross country skiing in Whitehorse, topped off by two local skiers being chosen to represent Canada at World Championship races later this month.

Emily Nishikawa, who lost her 2008/09 season to injury, was chosen to go to the World Under 23 Championships to be held in Hinterzgarten, Germany on Jan. 24. Also selected from the Yukon was Dahria Beatty, who will represent Canada at the World Junior Championships, to be held along with the under 23 event, for the first time.

"We're quite excited to have two skiers that will represent us at the World Championships later this month,” said Alain Masson, head coach of the Yukon Cross Country Ski Team. He spoke earlier this morning from Montreal where the two young women had an exceptional weekend of races.

Nishikawa and Beatty qualified in Quebec during the World Junior Trials that decided who would move on to Germany.

"It was a great weekend of races for Dahria Beatty and Emily Nishikawa,” said Masson.

Neither Beatty or Nishikawa have competed in a World Championship event before.

Beatty and Nishikawa weren't the only Yukon skiers to have a great weekend. Janelle Greer, fighting a brutal cold like many on the Yukon team, pulled off a silver medal in the 10-kilometre classic technique race yesterday.

Graham Nishikawa won two silver medals in the Open Men's category for two distance races and Knute Johnsgaard managed two top-10 performances out of a three race series.

On Dec. 27, the Yukon Ski Team was at home for the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club's Sportees Sprint.

Whitehorse's biggest names in cross-country skiing were out in force over the Christmas weekend for the event held at the ski stadium on Mt. McIntyre.

The skiers were treated to perfect conditions and many skiers attending university were home for the holidays to compete.

The competition was a big test for the club's officials as they prepare for the upcoming Haywood Nationals Cross Country Ski Championships to be held in Whitehorse in March.

This weekend and next, the club will host the Yukon Cross Country Ski Championships. Both events will be held on Saturday, with the free technique race happening this week, and the classic-technique race to be held next Saturday.

Both races start at 12:30 p.m.

2009 Sportees Sprint Results

Junior 0.3-kilometre free

1. Caelan McLean

2. Alexis Gee

3. Anna Janowicz

4. Maggie Brook

5. Leif Blake

Times not reported

– – –

Senior men 0.6-km free

Name/Place Time

1. David Greer 0:01:23.44

2. Graham Nishikawa 0:01:23.56

3. Ray Sabo 0:01:22.92

4. John Parry 0:01:27.33

5. Knute Johnsgaard 0:01:25.93

6. Sam Lindsey 0:01:28.31

7. Jeff Wood 0:01:29.21

8. Nansen Murray 0:01:30.21

9. Michael Abbott 0:01:30.00

10. Logan Potter 0:01:30.29

– – –

Senior women 0.6-km free

Name/Place Time

1. Theresia Schnurr 0:01:36.70

2. Emily Nishikawa 0:01:38.68

3. Dahria Beatty 0:01:45.31

4. Heidi Brook 0:01:44.59

5. Kendra Murray 0:01:47.58

6. Bryn Knight 0:01:51.16

7. Erin Oliver-Beebe 0:01:57.93

8. Jennifer Curtis 0:01:58.16

9. Pippa Lawson 0:02:01.62

10. Aryn Clarke 0:01:58.08

– – –

Senior men 0.6-km free

Name/Place Time

1. Ray Sabo 0:01:22.92

2. David Greer 0:01:23.44

3. Graham Nishikawa 0:01:23.56

4. Knute Johnsgaard 0:01:25.93

5. John Parry 0:01:27.33

6. Sam Lindsey 0:01:28.31

7. Jeff Wood 0:01:29.21

8. Michael Abbott 0:01:30.00

9. Ryan Burlingame 0:01:30.18

10. Nansen Murray 0:01:30.21

– – –

Senior women 0.6-km free

Name/Place Time

1. Theresia Schnurr 0:01:36.70

2. Emily Nishikawa 0:01:38.68

3. Heidi Brook 0:01:44.59

4. Dahria Beatty 0:01:45.31

5. Kendra Murray 0:01:47.58

6. Bryn Knight 0:01:51.16

7. Ziggy Reimer 0:01:57.45

8. Erin Oliver-Beebe 0:01:57.93

9. Aryn Clarke 0:01:58.08

10. Jennifer Curtis 0:01:58.16