Skiers were carving up the trails at Carlton Trail Ski Club Jan. 24, as the club hosted the Sask Cup #3 cross-country skiing race.
The race brought out 65 competitors in 23 different events and skiers ranged in age from 4- 64 years old.
Among the competitors racing in the sit ski competition was Colette Bourgonje.
Bourgonje is a ten-time Paralympian who has three Paralympic silver medals and seven Paralympic bronze medals. Bourgonje competed in seven Paralympics as a Para-Nordic skier and three Paralympics in Para-Athletics.
Bourgonje is now coaching so she brought her pupil out with her for a nice weekend of racing.
“Of course I have a few under my belt so I thought it would be great to see the trails and ski on a different venue,” she said.
Carlton Trail President and Chief of Competition Dave Martinuk was super excited to see Bourgonje out to the event. In past years with Bourgonje on the national team she wasn’t available to come so to have her come out now that she’s retired was a real positive.
“It was wonderful being able to have her here so it meant a lot having a successful Paralympian like her here. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Colette here,” he said.
Crystle Shewchuk is Bourgonje’s newest student and the weekend was her first race. She said she loves working with Bourgonje because she’s a great coach who exudes lots of positivity.
“She makes it fun and she just gives you that extra boost,” Shewchuk said.
Shewchuk also said that she was pleased with how the race went, given it was her first ever race.
“It was a lot better than I thought it was going to be so I am pretty impressed with myself,” she said.
After a cold week prior, the race was blessed with beautiful weather as the temperature rose to just below freezing. The warm humid air made for great skiing conditions as it allowed the skies to glide better through the snow.
Martuinuk said he was really pleased with how the weekend went.
“The snow conditions were excellent,” he said, “the temperatures were good, we actually had excellent glide.”
Humboldt was lucky enough to hold their event given the previous two events in La Ronge were forced to be cancelled in December due to a lack of snow. Finally, last weekend La Ronge had enough snow and the race was cancelled due to the temperature being far too cold.
Martinuk said that thanks to the warmer weather and it being the first race of the year, numbers were up from previous years. He recalled only 38 or 39 racers last year. Martinuk also attributes Humboldt for their success in attracting racers.
“A lot of people love coming to Humboldt anyway...They enjoy coming here,” he said.
Martinuk thinks it is very important not only for the ski club but also for the City of Humboldt to host.
“You’re putting your community front and centre for people to see,” he said.
The Carlton Trail Ski Club’s next event will be their Valentine’s Loppet on Feb. 13 at 9 am.
