Yukon cross-country skiers hit the ground running at the Haywood NorAm and Teck Sprint Series held at Sovereign Lake, B.C., last weekend.

"Usually we're a bit slower, we tend to do better in February and March,” coach Alain Masson said. "We don't race as much here as other people do in other areas, so I would say it was a nice surprise to race this well this early in the season.

"Some athletes seem to be able to perform well early in the season, others take a few more weeks or a few months.”

In its first race of the season Outside, the Yukon boasted seven of its members hitting top six results in their categories in Saturday's classic sprints.

Stars for the day were junior female skiers Janelle Greer and Dahria Beatty, who finished first and second in their category.

Graham Nishikawa also reached the podium, picking up a silver medal in the open men's race, while David Greer, not usually known as a sprinter, narrowly missed the podium with a fifth-place finish.

Other Whitehorse skiers who advanced to the final rounds in the sprint heats junior males were Jeff Woods, who finished fourth, and Knute Johnsgaard, who finished fifth. Katie Peters and Holly Bull finished fifth and 12th respectively in the junior girls category.

Masson said these results were especially positive for the Yukoners, who are generally regarded as better distance racers.

"Usually we are a bit better at distance, but this weekend it looks like Yukoners did better at the sprinting,” he said.

"Summer training probably made the most difference, trying to improve our basic speed for sprinting.”

On Sunday, racers competed in a free technique distance race.

The weather turned on both athletes and organizers, with heavy wet snow accumulating overnight and continuing through the race, making the hill courses soft and slow and limiting visibility.

Top result for the day was Graham Nishikawa, who hit the podium once again as the first Canadian across the finish line and second overall behind Lars Flora of the U.S. in the open men's 15-km race.

Nishikawa's silver was matched by Katie Peters, who tied for second in the junior girls five-km race.

Peters consistent high placing over the weekend also gave her a nod for the aggregate award in her age group.

Masson said he noticed his team's intensity drop on the second day after competing at roughly 1,664-metres altitude.

"Not all athletes adjust to the elevation as well as others, so I think a lot of our athletes, especially the ones based in Whitehorse, were a bit tired for Sunday's race,” Masson said.

Johnsgaard and Greer are based at the Pierre Harvey National Development Centre in Quebec, Emily and Graham Nishikawa and Janelle Greer are based at the National Training Centre in Canmore, Alta., and Jeff Woods is based at the national training centre in Whistler, B.C., while Colin Abbott races for Carlton University in Ottawa.

"The ones that are based here (in Whitehorse) – Katie Peters and Dahria Beatty – got some of the best results over the weekend,” Masson said. "We've been on snow for probably longer than most other people in the country; I'd say the ones who come from back east haven't had snow for very long, so they haven't been able to do as much specifics training as we have.”

The next Yukon contingent will be heading to the NorAms in Rossland, B.C., next weekend, though, Masson pointed out, many of the skiers will be attending Canada Winter Games Trials in Whitehorse on Dec. 21-22.

Graham, who is the only one ineligible for the Canada Games, Emily, David Greer and Woods will be heading to B.C. for that competition.

Masson said it's too early to tell how last weekend's results would hold up to the competition at the Canada Winter Games in Halifax, N.S., in February.

"The Canada Games are in late February, so there's a lot of time between now and then.

"But it's always motivating and inspiring to start the season well, so we can say at this time that it looks good for the rest of the season. I think the team is where it wants to be, and it looks good for Canada Games in February.”