Can you believe it’s Thursday? The second week of the Canada Winter Games is in full swing. So let’s take a look at what the Yukon athletes have been up to.

The alpine skiers were on the slopes yesterday competing in the slalom. In the girls’ competition, Greta Gladwin placed 23rd.

In the boys’ slalom, Clayton Michael Chapman came 25th. His teammates Naoise Dempsey, Orin Gladwin, and Wesley Vangel did not finish (DNF).

The badminton team’s Games appear to be over as none of the competitors reached the quarter-final rounds yesterday.

After having yesterday off the cross-country ski team will be back in action today. The girls will be racing in a 10-kilometre class mass start race. The boys’ race is 15-kilometres.

Cross-country coach Alain Masson was reached in Red Deer yesterday. He said today should be a good day for the athletes.

“In the short sprints (yesterday) we did not have much expectation,” said Masson. “We do not have sprinters. (Today) should be a better day, we have always been stronger in distance.”

Masson has clearly made the expectations known to all the skiers on the team.

“We are looking for good racing and always hoping for the podium,” said Masson.

“Natalie (Hynes) has a really good chance of medalling. The boys, Derek Deuling should crack the top 10. Top 20 finishes for the other boys would be remarkable.”

The competition at the Games is very strong according to Masson.

“It is the best 23 and under racers in Canada,” said Masson. “You have to have an exceptional race to win, it’s a competitive field.”

Masson said that the Yukon ski team is quite young, most being 16. He said the most competitive skiers are 19-to-20 years old.

Moving to the rink, figure skaters Alissa Russell and Jamie Nickel skated their last routine yesterday in the singles pre-novice division.

Russell scored 17.24 in her short program skate on Monday and yesterday, her free program routine scored 30.93.

Her total score was 48.17.

Nickel scored 14.43 on her short program and 29.24 on her free program for a total score of 43.91.

Mike Sumner competed in the Special Olympic singles level III category and placed third amongst his fellow skaters.

Mikayla Kramer will skate her free program today in the novice class.

Two judokas were in action yesterday. Rowen Kingston competing in the 81kg weight class bowed out in the repechage round.

Jadon Zayith Leenders in the +81kg class also had his tournament end in the repechage round.

Cassie Jensen in the 57kg weight class dropped her two encounters yesterday and made it to the repechage round.

The snowboarders will be back on the mountain today competing in slopestyle. In the girls’ competition, Riley Boland completed qualifiers this morning with a total score of 51.20.

Slammy Mathers and Ben Machtans will be competing later today.

The hockey team will play P.E.I. this afternoon in a qualifying round.