BLACK JACK / ROSSLAND RACES: 250 RACERS AND COUNTING!

Watch many of the top racers in North America compete at the Black Jack cross country ski trails this weekend as part of the Haywood Nor Am and Buff Sprint series! This event is also part of the Canadian World Jr and U23 Championship Team Trials. The races for this weekend are a free technique sprint and a classic technique distance race. Also on this weekend will be the Teck Kootenay Cup #1 & #2 races. 

So far from Canada we have racers from Alberta, BC, Ontario, Quebec, and the Yukon.  And so far from the USA we have racers from Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. 

Saturday morning will feature the exciting head-to-head sprints, with the qualification rounds starting at 9am and the elimination heats starting at 11:30am.  Sunday morning will feature the beautiful and grueling classic distance event on Ophir Trail, Black Jack's new flagship trail, starting at 9am for the women and 10am for the men.  Find out more at www.skiblackjack.ca.

“Black Jack has really put itself on the map for consistently hosting great events” says Dave Dyer, Events Director for Cross Country Canada.  “Enthusiastic volunteers, great snow, great trails, top notch grooming, a strong race committee, and a very welcoming town - the perfect mix!  We’re very excited to see all the trail improvements they have made."

Many organizations pitched in for the summer trail work that allowed this event to happen.  Big thanks to Columbia Basin Trust, RDKB Area B, Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust;  as well as Major Local Sponsors Teck Trail Operations, Kootenay Savings Community Foundation, Red Mountain, and MountainFM; and Local Sponsors Nelson & District Credit Union, Gericks, and Big Red Cats.

Photo credits:  Julien Locke.