2022 FIS World Junior/U23 Championships
Lygna, Norway
February 22 – 27, 2022
February 14th
Thursday, February 10th, marked our first full day in Norway. As we all struggle to adjust to the time change, we have been lucky to be able to watch the cross-country races live at the Olympics, as they all start around 8 am our time! So, Thursday morning, we were up and watching the women’s 10 km interval start classic race.
After that excitement, we walked to the wax rooms, jumped on our skis, and tried out the Sjusjøen trails for the first time. The skies were clear and the weather mild – especially for those of us who have regularly been skiing in -20 temperatures. The trails were deserted, and after exploring the race loop around the biathlon stadium, we headed out and around the ski hill on which we are staying. Some ended up doing a loop that took them to the top of the ski hill and down the front, while others simply did an out and back. In the afternoon we had an easy ski or run. I decided to go for a run, and since the sun sets around 4:50 here, I was able to catch a beautiful sunset as I ran up the mountain.
As we settled into our accommodations, it became clear that we would not be able to fit our bags in our rooms (at least on the girl's floor). Many of our rooms have two sets of bunk beds, and there is no space for three sets of suitcases and backpacks as well. The hallway on the girl’s floor also has a long row of hooks, so it is filled, not only with luggage but plenty of jackets and overpants as well.
Friday morning was similar to the day before, although the Men’s 15km classic race involved substantially less suspense than the race the day before. After a double training day, we were treated to a very traditional Norwegian supper. Boiled and salted fish, boiled potatoes, and sliced cucumbers. Julia, one of our coaches (who is a Norwegian herself) told us that it was her comfort meal because it tastes like nothing. I’m not sure that the rest of us shared this sentiment, but we appreciated the experience…
For lunch and dinner, a caterer comes up from Lillehammer (~20 minutes away) and breakfasts are made by each athlete. While there is never a shortage of lunch or dinner, the coaches have to do a grocery run for breakfast foods and snacks every other day. The waffle maker especially is well used, with waffles being made before afternoon training or before bed (or both). However, with nearly 20 athletes, it should not be a surprise that we go through so much food.
On Friday evening, several of us had noticed that there were new cars parked at the lodge next to ours. One of them had the name “Martin J. Sundby” written on the side, and a couple of us caught a glimpse of someone we were sure was Sundby himself. While he left before anyone was able to work up the courage to try and meet him, it is cool to say that we had stayed right next to the Norwegian legend.
Saturday morning, we watched the women’s relay (yay Germany!) before heading out to do skate threshold intervals on the competition trails. Unbeknownst to us, there was also a Loppet taking place simultaneously. The stadium and parking lot were filled, but we were able to find a nice loop for our intensity that stayed out of the way of the race. In the afternoon, three more Canadian athletes arrived meaning we are slowly making our way to becoming a full team. Only a few more athletes are still slated to arrive. There is a lot to look forward to here as we also gear up for a time trial on Wednesday – we are hoping to run it down on the Lillehammer race trails no less!
By Marielle Ackermann, Kimberley Nordic Ski Club
Previous Reports & Photos:
1. https://www.crosscountrybc.ca/bc-athletes-2022-world-junioru23-championships-feb-12
BC Athletes on the Canadian Team:
Juniors:
Jasmine Drolet (Black Jack Cross Country Ski Club, Rossland)
Marielle Ackermann (Kimberley Nordic Club, Kimberley)
U23s:
Beth Granstrom (Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club, Revelstoke)
Joe Davies (Whistler Nordic Ski Club, Whistler)