GATINEAU, Q.C. – Provincial team athletes competed alongside over 650 racers across Canada and United States; at the Eastern Canada Cup; the first major ski race of the season in the East, held at the Nakkertok Nordic Ski Centre, on December 13-15, 2024. Multiple events were held over three days of racing. Athletes attending included: Cohen Norman, Halifax, uOttawa Nordiq team member; Suzanne Jackson, Halifax; and Paige Neklia, Prospect. Norman was challenged by competing through first year university exams and illness. Home club for our athletes is Scotia XC Ski Club.
Races were organized on three courses, which included: 1 km sprint course, 1.3 km sprint course and 3.3 km distance course; on the homologated “Nakkertrak” training and race loop, which is supported by artificial snowmaking. Known as the Candy Cane Cup, this racing event is part of the Nordiq Canada Eastern Canada Cup series, CCUNC, the Ontario Cup and the Quebec Cup.
Nakkertok first held this event in 2016; a sanctioned event organized by club alumni who wanted an early season CPL points race. All participants received a candy cane at the finish line. Fast forward to today, the race has progressed to attracting hundreds of high level athletes.
Provincial team alumni earned strong results. Athletes included: Milo Sircom-Brown, of uOttawa Nordiq; Fiona McClure and Ogen Newcomb, current members of Carleton Ravens Nordic Ski team. Alumni highlights featured below.
Alumni Race Highlights:
· Milo Sircom-Brown (Wolfville), member of uOttawa Nordiq and NS Ski Team alumni, finished 10th in the U20 distance classic event. He placed 16th in sprint qualifier, progressing to semi-final round and a binding malfunction resulted in DNF. Sircom-Brown earned 15th in 7.5 km freestyle.
· Fiona McClure, Carleton University racer and NS Ski Team alumni, earned 18th place in the senior female women’s classic distance event; McClure finished 16th in classic sprint qualifier, progressing to quarter finals with an overall finish of 27th for Open F category. She earned 24th place in 7.5 km freestyle, Sr Women.
· Ogen Newcomb, Carleton University racer and NS Ski Team alumni, finished 20th in distance classic. He earned 32nd in 7.5 km interval freestyle.
Team Race Results:
FIS Eastern Canada Cup / CCUNC – Fri, Dec 13: Interval Start, Distance Classic
| ATHLETE | UNIVERSITY TEAM | CATEGORY | DISTANCE | PLACE | TIME | DIFFERENTIAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cohen Norman | uOttawa | U20 M | 10 km | 33/39 | 28:03.2 | +4:36.7 |
FIS Eastern Canada Cup – Fri, Dec 13: Sprints, classic
| ATHLETE | UNIVERSITY TEAM | CATEGORY | DISTANCE | PLACE | TIME | DIFFERENTIAL | ROUND | FINAL RESULTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzanne Jackson | U18 G | 1 km | 16/41 | 3:39.35 | +29.35 | Quarter-Finals | 14/41 | |
| Paige Neklia | U18 G | 1 km | 41/41 | 4:50.46 | +1:40.46 | Qualifier | 41/41 |
FIS Eastern Canada Cup – Sat, Dec 14: Sprints, classic
| ATHLETE | UNIVERSITY TEAM | CATEGORY | DISTANCE | PLACE | TIME | DIFFERENTIAL | ROUND | FINAL RESULTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cohen Norman | uOttawa | U20 M | 1.3 km | 31/42 | 3:19.87 | +27.29 | Quarter Finals | 15/27 |
Eastern Canada Cup / CCUNC – Sat, Dec 14: Interval Start Classic
| ATHLETE | UNIVERSITY TEAM | CATEGORY | DISTANCE | PLACE | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzanne Jackson | U18 F | 3.3 km | 11/44 | 10:16.4 | |
| Paige Neklia | U18 F | 3.3 km | 43/44 | 14:03.5 |
Eastern Canada Cup / CCUNC – Sun, Dec 15, Interval Start Free
| ATHLETE | UNIVERSITY TEAM | CATEGORY | DISTANCE | PLACE | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzanne Jackson | U18 F | 7.5 km | 17/43 | 24:07.1 | |
| Paige Neklia | U18 F | 7.5 km | 40/43 | 31:23.8 |
Eastern Canada Cup / CCUNC – Sun, Dec 15, Interval Start Free
| ATHLETE | UNIVERSITY TEAM | CATEGORY | DISTANCE | PLACE | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cohen Norman | uOttawa | U20 M | 7.5 km | 38/46 | 20:30.3 |
Complete Results: https://zone4.ca/event/2024/byYgJL/
Photos
Competition photos of Paige Neklia (left), Cohen Norman (top right), Milo Sircom-Brown (bottom right). Photos by Rob Smith.
Domestic Race Calendar – Nordiq Canada
https://nordiqcanada.ca/races/race-calendar/
Cross Country Nova Scotia 