THUNDER BAY – Evan Palmer-Charrette wasn’t happy with how his race week has gone.
The Thunder Bay skier did win bronze in the 1.2-kilometre short sprint race on Wednesday, but he was hoping for more in his earlier race.
The wait was worth it.
On Saturday, on the final day of competition, Palmer-Charrette outduelled former National Team Development Centre-Thunder Bay member Scott Hill to capture the senior men’s 50-kilometre classic race at Lappe Nordic Centre, taking the crown jewel of the 2018 Ski Nationals competition.
“It feels awesome,” Palmer-Charrette said, moments after raising both poles to the sky as he crossed the line in 2:16:44.1, a final charge giving him a 9.8-second cushion over hill at the end.
“The skate distance race I was pretty disappointed with. I felt like I had what I needed that day, I Just didn’t play my cards right. It was nice to actually get onto the podium in the sprint, but I felt like the body was feeling strong today. Scott Hill skied an amazing race. He was for sure the strongest athlete in the field, but unlike on Tuesday in the skate race, I feel like I skied a smart race.”
That meant biding his time, content to run with the pack for as long as necessary.
Palmer-Charrette said Hill, who captured the skate race, made a move around the 30-kilometre mark, narrowing the lead group to the two of them, Barrie, Ont.’s Ryan Jackson – who ultimately finished third – and Thunder Bay’s Andy Shields.
Another move eliminated Shields from the chase, leaving three skiers to fight it out for medal positions.
“Over 50 K, skiing in the draft, you’re probably skiing 10 per cent easier than the person leading. I just picked a few critical points to lead, but for a lot of the race I just tucked into the pack and hung out and rode along and skied away with the group.”
Palmer-Charrette made his move toward the end, in the final kilometre, taking advantage of a climb to surge ahead.
“On the second last one it’s not as steep and you’re able to stay in the track. I was able to just open it up, saw what they had compared to me and that’s really what made the difference,” he said. “It’s been a bit of tough year, but it felt awesome to finish things off on a high note.”
It was a bittersweet day for Thunder Bay’s Michael Somppi, who along with Olympian Jesse Cockney, was skiing his final race at the national level.
Somppi finished fifth, behind NTDC-TB racer Julian Smith, in a race he won in 2015, the last time the event was held at Lappe Nordic Centre.
While the finish wasn’t what he’d hoped for, he’s happy with the result, knowing he gave it his all in his final race.
“It was a hard-fought race,” said Sommpi, greeted with a giant hug from his girlfriend at the finish line. “Even coming out toward the front of the group I was skiing with felt like an accomplishment, because that was a hard pace.
“It’s been 11 years of racing at an elite level in Canada and the States and internationally. I’ve put a lot into it, so it really is emotional at the end.”
Still panting, he did say it’s not as hard walking away as he thought.
“I’m going to miss it, for sure, but I’ll stay involved in the community. My body at this point, I’m struggling to find the motivation to dig that deep.”
Quebec’s Antoine Cyr took the junior men’s 30-kilometre race in 1:20:44.9. Thunder Bay’s Graham Ritchie was fifth and Lappe Nordic’s Levi Nadlersmith took sixth.
