Nine skiers from the Yukon Ski Team departed for Cochrane, Alta. yesterday to compete in the first Alberta Cup race.

The racers representing the Yukon are: Dahlia Lapointe, Sonjaa Schmidt, Derek Deuling, Victor-Emile Thibault, Sasha Masson, Ben Puskas, Nichollis Schmidt, Romeo Champagne and Jamie Phillips-Freedman.

The racers were chosen based on last years performances in outside races. According to Yukon Ski Team head coach Alain Masson, the Alberta Cup is going to be well attended as it is the first race of the season in Canada.

“Since it is the first race the Alberta Cup will get most of the best skiers from Western Canada, as well as some Eastern skiers,” said Masson. “There will also be some Americans racing, it is going to be very competed, a real high level of competition.”

The Yukon skiers are in the junior category, aged 16-17. Their results at this race will play a part in determining the next competitive races they attend.

“This race is important because it is the start of the selection process for the ski team that will compete for Team Yukon at the Canada Winter Games,” said Masson. “The results of this race will also get them selected for other trips, as well it will count towards whether or not they get selected for the National Championship.”

There will be two styles of races at the Alberta Cup, skate and a classic race, both are distance style races.

In skate the skiers depart in intervals and ski alone. The classic race is a mass start. The nine skiers will be competing in both events.

All nine racers are heading into their weekend with the same strategy.

“We just want the skiers to get back to basics in the races,” said Masson. “Ski technically sound and get back into racing form. They will race well.”

With the clubs ability to make snow, the skiers were able to get some practices and time trials under their belts as they prepared for their first competitive race of the season.

“We had snow a little later this year, but we have been able to ski, and we have done two training races in Whitehorse,” said Masson. “The trails we cannot ride because of the bad snow conditions, having made snow for our track has saved our season so far.”

Cross Country Yukon’s season got off to a rocky start when their water pump, used in snowmaking, was stolen in October.