Corner Brook -
A fresh batch of light snow made skiers work extra hard on the trails, but there were smiles all around at the finish line of Wednesday's free technique race at the 2010 Canadian Masters Cross-Country Ski Championships.
Jennifer Pendelton of Corner Brook, one of the local favourites at this year's event, was the first woman to complete the 10-kilometre trek at Blow Me Down Trails with a final clocking of 39 minutes, 36.3 seconds. Pendleton's time was good enough for top spot overall in the Ladies O2 (Born 1970-1974) division.
"This fresh snow really slowed it down from what we've had the last few days," Pendleton said in the stadium area following the race. "You didn't get a rest anywhere, you had to work. Every stretch of the course you had to be working. You had to work extra hard going up the hills, and you didn't really get a break on the down hills. If you wanted to keep your speed up you had to be skating so you either had to free skate or actually pole while you skated, so not a lot of opportunity for recovery."
Pendleton said there aren't a lot of female racers in the province simply because the numbers don't exist, but they all have a competitive nature about themselves and try to do their best. For her, she strives on being the first woman to cross the finish line, but she also isn't intimidated by the men on the course either.
"I just kind of lump everybody together male or female," she said. "I want to be the first woman overall and I always try to up my standing amongst the men. There's always a few men that I'm trying to beat or get closer to, that kind of stuff, so it just kind of helps with a little bit of friendly competition and motivation."
Terra Hynes of John's Beach made her Masters national debut and placed second behind Pendleton with a time of 42:24.8, while clubmate Brenda Urbenz-Lockyer placed third after crossing the finish line in 54 minutes, five seconds.
"It was great in a sense of meeting all these new people from across Canada and my race in itself it was a great day for me," Hynes said after being greeted by a warm embrace from her husband in the stadium area. "I ended up having a great wax job and snow conditions were pretty good considering the new snow that had come down."
Hynes said she focused on giving it her all like she does every time she competes and just wanted to do her best.
"I went out and worked the hardest that I have ever worked on a 10-km run and felt fabulous," she said.
Meanwhile, 30-year-old Andre Bourque of Pasadena, also a member of Blow Me Down Trails, finished third overall and first in his age group when he crossed the finish line in 34 minutes, five seconds.
Bourque enjoyed the race even though the course was a little slower than normal because of the fresh snow that had fallen at the nordic ski park.
"Going down the hills we had to work it a little bit, we couldn't just glide straight through, but all in all it was a good race," he said.
Today at Blow Me Down Trails, a 10-km classic race is on the slate and a steak night and dance planned for Thursday night will give participants a chance to kick back and relax. Friday is a training day with the groomed trail network open to racers and members alike, while a long distance free technique race is scheduled for Saturday, the final day of the national championships.
For complete results from Wednesday's race, see Scoreboard in today's edtion of The Western Star.
