Telemark sending 2 to world juniors
Williams, Mehain to ski at U23 finals in Switzerland
Two local athletes are headed to Europe for the world juniors — of skiing.
Qualifying to represent Canada at the World Junior Ski Championships are Gareth Williams (under-23) and Hannah Mehain (under-20). They’re headed to France for a training camp in preparation for the worlds in Goms, Switzerland, in two weeks.
“This was Telemark’s most successful world trials competition ever,” coach Brent Hobbs said in a press release. “Facing stiff competition, several skiers achieved top 10 and 20 placings, proving that Telemark is one of the strongest cross-country ski teams in Canada.”
Eight Kelowna Toyota Telemark skiers travelled to Monte Ste. Anne, Que., recently for the Canadian trials and a crack at the worlds. Highlights included
— Williams won the under-23 men’s 30-kilometre event while teammate David Walker was sixth.
— Mehain won the women’s under-20 five-km classic event while finishing fourth in the sprint and seventh in the 10-km skiathlon.
— In the under-23 men’s 15-km classic, Telemark collected top results from Williams (fourth), Thomas Hardy (10th) and Alex McDonald (11th).
— Tallon Noble was ninth and Ian Williams 11th in the U20 men’s 10-km classic.
— Noble was fifth and McDonald 19th in the open men’s sprint.
— Cole Turner, the youngest competitor on the squad, finished 34th in the U20 men’s 10-km classic.
The Telemark skiers were supported by a team of Cross Country B.C. coaches including Telemark head coach Adam Elliot, Matt Smider from Revelstoke Nordic and Team B.C. head coach Chris Manhard.