Big Thunder Nordic ski team all business at Ontario Midget Championships

(Thunder Bay, Ontario)  Big Thunder Nordic Ski Team’s Junior Racers always look like they are having a great time, yet they were all business this year at the Ontario Midget Championships hosted by Karwartha Nordic near Peterborough, Ontario. 

This two day event included both a classic and skate technique race as well as fun-focused team relays.  Led by Head Coach Leif Lennie, a group of seven young athletes nabbed six gold and one silver medal over two days of racing against the best young skiers in Ontario.

Day one got underway with Classic individual start events.  Skiers raced in either the Pee Wee or Midget age ranges and medals were also awarded based on year of birth.  Carley Kiiskila (2004) was first over all for Pee Wee girls and also claimed gold for her year of birth while Sally Stewart (2006) skied to gold for her age group.  In Pee Wee Boys, Matthew Randall (2004) raced his way to first place on the podium. 

The Midget girls were led by Anna Stewart (2003) with silver for her age group.  Alexander Randall (2002) made the top ten in Midget Boys with a 6th place finish.

Day two was exciting and nerve racking mass start skate events where skiers all start together and must fight their way onto the trail. 

Carley Kiiskila (2004) proved unbeatable with a repeat of her performance from day one with first overall and gold for her year of birth in Pee Wee girls. 

Sally Stewart (2006) also repeated her gold medal performance for her age group.  Matthew Randall (2004) made the top ten with 6th place in his age group for Pee Wee boys.  Anna Stewart (2003) claimed second overall and gold for her age group in Midget girls while Olivia Demetrakopolous and Ainsley Carr (2002) ranked 9th and 12th respectively.

The focus now is on the final event in the Ontario Cup series (# 3) to be held March 4-6th, 2016 hosted by Temiskaming Nordic, followed by Haywood Ski Nationals in Whitehorse, Yukon March 19-26, 2016.