West Vancouver’s Lucas Gitt can call himself a national champion after claiming first place in the aggregate standings for his age group at the Canadian cross-country skiing championships, March 20-27 at Whistler Olympic Park.
The Hollyburn Cross-Country Ski Club member took the aggregate title for the boys 2007-born age group at the championships. Gitt finished first in his age group in the short-course freestyle and medium course classical races and placed second in the long distance race.
“My experience at nationals was amazing,” the Sentinel Secondary Grade 9 student told the North Shore News. “I was unsure of what to expect, but it was very memorable. The weather and conditions could have been better, but that’s part of the sport.”
Gitt credited his parents and head coach Jake Weaver for helping him get to this point, adding that he’ll be gunning for a position on the provincial team, and potentially the national team in the near future.
“I would love to travel to Europe to race and participate in World Cup events,” he said. “Who knows, maybe with enough hard work and dedication, I’ll see myself in the Olympics one day.”
Elsewhere at the championships, North Vancouver’s Aidan Hay just missed the podium in the boys 2004 age group, finishing fourth in the aggregate standings.
The Hollyburn team, based out of the Cypress Mountain Nordic ski area, finished ninth out of 35 teams in combined aggregate score.
The event was organized by the newly formed Black Tusk Nordic Events Society, with North Vancouver’s Norm Laube as chairman.
“The 10 days of competitions were the biggest international ski event at Whistler since the 2010 Winter Olympics,” stated Laube in a release. “These events were crucial to our preparedness for hosting the 2023 FIS Nordic Junior and U23 Cross Country World Ski Championships, which will occur Jan. 27-Feb. 5, 2023, at Whistler Olympic Park, and will feature 500 of the best 16- to 23-year-old athletes from 40 countries.”
