MVNT’s Walker Hall (No. 67) trailed Sasha Masson of Yukon Ski team.
The Methow Valley Nordic Team (MVNT) launched its season at the Sovereign Lake Open skate race last week, as part of the team’s annual Thanksgiving training camp.
“We challenge the skiers to put in a solid week of training so topping that off with a racing event is hard, but we asked them to put in a good effort and focus on specific technique goals,” team director Leslie Hall said in an email.
Races ranged from two laps around the World Cup 5-kilometer course for the U18 boys, to one lap on the 2.5K for the U14 and younger skiers. The temperature was about 10 degrees Fahrenheit and the snow was packed powder, making for excellent conditions, Hall reported.
Standout performances were registered by Walker Hall, winning the U18 boys 10K; Gretta Scholz finishing 6th in the U20 (junior women) category and Oliver Orkand completing his first ski race ever on a super-challenging 10K course.
Results for all MVNT skiers:
U18 boys’ 10K: Walker Hall, 1st; Aidan Whitelaw, 18th; Ian Delong, 30th; Oliver Orkand, 43rd
U20 women’s 5K: Gretta Scholz, 6th.
U18 girls’ 5K: Greta Laesch, 22nd; Keeley Brooks, 30th.
U16 boys’ 5K: Graham Sheley, 30th; Carter Sheley, 32nd.
U16 girls’ 5K: Jori Grialou, 6th; Stella Scholz, 22nd; Mariah Lucy, 25th.
U14 boys’ 2.5K: Aidan Sands, 34th.
U14 girls’ 2.5K: Dashe McCabe, 9th; Marit Nelson, 34th.
Hall reported that Novie McCabe did not compete due to a recent shoulder dislocation. McCabe hopes to be ready to test it out this weekend at the Canmore AB Nor Am/Super Tour. Several other team members were fighting illness or injury so did not compete, Hall noted. MVNT will have six to eight racers at the Canmore event on Dec. 6-8.
