Winning ways

If the Olympics were ever held at Lappe Nordic Ski Centre, chances are Dasha Gaiazova would be the odds on favourite in any race she entered.

Gaiazova finished 22nd in the women’s sprint completion at last winter’s Vancouver Games and remained undefeated on Northern Ontario trails on Saturday, capturing the senior female 1.2-kilometre classic sprint, her second win in two events at the Heywood NorAm national ski championships being staged at Lappe this weekend.

 “Racing in Thunder Bay, especially here at Lappe is a bit of a lucky place for me,” said the 27-year-old Gaiazova, who was born in Russia but immigrated to Canada with her parents when she was 15.

“Last time I raced here was in 2006 when we had nationals, and I won every single race. Even coming for these races I was sitting in the plane, I was so excited. I was like, ‘Yeah, we’re going to Thunder Bay. I love racing here.’”

The Montreal resident, who competes for the Alberta-based Rocky Mountain Racers, said she’s definitely looking forward to keeping her Lappe winning streak alive.

“For sure I’ll be trying my best and pushing my hardest. We’ll see what happens. But I’m looking forward to skiing the 5K loop twice.”

The difference on Saturday was being prepared, said Gaiazova, who edged out fellow national ski team member Perianne Jones and Alysson Marshall – who earned a berth at the Under 23 world championship in Estonia later this month – for the win.

“I’m really passionate about sport and I really enjoy skiing and just being able to push myself to the absolute limit of my abilities. It’s been something I’ve always tried to accomplish in the race and I think today in the final I tried to hammer out and give my 100 per cent and make it count on that hill. I think that was the difference,” she said.

Thunder Bay’s Erin Tribe, a member of the National Development Centre squad, may not have won on Saturday, but she did manage to punch her ticket to the Canada Winter Games in Halifax next month. Tribe who finished fifth in the B final, was the top Ontario finisher eligible for the Games, which automatically qualified her.

Also heading to Halifax is Michael Somppi, who made it to the B-side final in the senior men’s, falling short of his ultimate goal, a trip to Estonia on the U23 team.

Both skiers say they have unfinished business in that regard, but were happy with the consolation prize.

“I’m really excited,” Tribe said. “It’s kind of like an extra little freebie on today, even though I didn’t make my ultimate goal of U23s today. I still have tomorrow. But making Canada Winter Games will be so much fun with a great group of people.”

Somppi said likewise.

“It feels good to make the team and get one down. There’s one more to go. Hopefully tomorrow I can qualify for the U23s. But I’m happy to be going to Halifax to represent Ontario,” he said.

In the senior men’s race, Brent McCurtry of the Calgary-based Foothills ski club took top spot, edging out Canmore’s Stefan Kuhn and Alberta World Cup Academy member Jess Cockney, who captured the U23 men’s berth up for grabs on Saturday.

Cockney, who has been to the world championships twice before hopes the third time is the charm.

“Obviously it’s a big relief to win a race and not have to sit around waiting for a phone call or hoping that they pick you. Winning a race is the best way to make sure you’re on the team,” he said.

Foothill’s Heidi Widmer, who qualified for the junior squad by virtue of winning on Thursday, went back-to-back on Saturday, taking the 1.2-kilometre classic race over Janelle Greer and third-place finisher Michelle Workun-Hill.

Big Thunder’s Kara Jaspers finished fourth in the B-side final.

Quebec’s Patrick Stewart-Jones took top spot in the junior 1.6-kilometre sprint, and will also head to Estonia as a result. NDC-Thunder Bay’s Andy Shields, who earned a spot on the junior team in Thursday’s race, was third, while Big Thunder’s Jimmy Gunka finished fifth.

Natalia Hawthorne of Bracebridge, Ont., topped the junior girl’s category, beating out Big Thunder’s Moira Haggarty, while Edmonton’s Matthew Saurette won the junior boy’s 1.6 kilometre sprint. Big Thunder’s Julian Freitag was second.

Times were not immediately available for any of the races.

Action continues on Sunday at Lappe Nordic Ski Centre. Admission is free.