Log In


Reset Password
Sports Youth Sports Professional Sports More Sports College Sports High School Sports

Skate in style

Durango Nordic closes season at Crested Butte

Winter’s spectacular return to Colorado came just in time for the Durango Nordic Ski Club last week. After two weeks of skittering around on an icy bunny slope at Purgatory Resort, 13 club athletes took advantage of the new snow and freshly groomed trails to prepare for their final race of the season, the Rocky Mountain Nordic U14 Championships.

Hosted by the Crested Butte Nordic Team, the championships offered Colorado’s 14 and younger skiers a series of race opportunities that were intense but also focused on fun.

The cold and snowy weekend began Saturday morning with an individual start classic race. Skiing a hilly 3-kilometer course, Logan Moore finished in 12th place for the U14 boys. Teammate Luke Tichi was 20th. For the U14 girls, Jordan Taylor also skied to 12th. Cecelia Compton was 16th and Carmen Hall was 17th.

Wiley Corra won the race for the U12 boys division. Ethan Craig took second and Levi Tichi finished 16th. For the U12 girls, Georgia Mynatt was Durango Nordic’s first finisher in sixth place. Ruth Holcomb was 10th, Halle Moore was 14th and Lilly Tichi was 17th.

Skiing a 1K loop, Andre Craig finished with a silver medal.

After the classic race, coaches from clubs around the state donned costumes and paired to complete a two-by-3K relay. Several athletes embraced the playful role reversal, taking the opportunity to fulfill responsibilities normally assigned to their coaches. They provided pep talks, waxed skis and cheered out on course. The highlight of the relay for Durango Nordic was when coach Levi Kurlander nearly outsprinted former coach Evan Elliott at the finish line. Elliott now coaches with the Boulder Nordic Junior Racing Team.

Undeterred by the steady snowfall, athletes rounded out the day with an afternoon of ski games.

Sunday’s race featured a mixed-team costume relay. Athletes from every club were split into groups of three and each team member was responsible for racing a 3K loop. The event not only allowed skiers such as Ethan Craig, who dressed up as the Dr. Seuss character Thing 2, a chance to be silly and have fun but to also meet and race with kids whom they normally compete against.

“The relay was fun to watch because it really gave the kids a reason to cheer for athletes from other teams,” said Durango Nordic head coach Gary Colliander.

One example of this interteam spirit was embodied by Logan Moore, who could be heard cheering for Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club teammate Noah Wheeless from every kilometer of the course. The encouragement must have paid off, as the team eventually skied to first place.

Four athletes from the Durango Nordic Ski Club will compete beginning Saturday at the 2015 junior nationals in Truckee, California: Avra Saslow, Anna Fake, Katja Freeburn and Marit May. The races finish up March 15.



Reader Comments