Nordic ski enthusiasts got their fill of the action at the Snowy Owl Classic held at the Whaleback Nordic Ski Park in Stephenville on Saturday.
In the 29th running of the popular event hosted by the Whaleback Nordic Ski Club, 70 athletes signed up for the competition. Not only does the Snowy Owl challenge skiers physically, it is also for a good cause. During the event, funds were raised for the Newfoundland and Labrador Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Blow Me Down Trails’ Luke Dunphy was the big winner on the male side. The representative of the Corner Brook-based team completed the 8.5 kilometre course in just over 29 minutes to claim the men’s trophy.
Chloe Reid, another Blow Me Down Trails athlete, was tops in the women’s bracket as she posted a time of 39 minutes which was good for first place.
Whaleback’s Cori Hicks, a para-athlete who sit skis, finished 1.1 kilometre run in a time of 28:31.
In the team event, the group from Stephenville and the southwest area registered a total of 5776 points to claim the coveted Snow Owl Cup.. The Kippens Kapers were second at 3602 while the team from Corner Brook and east rounded out the top-3 with a score of 2524.
“Even though neither team broke the 50 entry mark, overall the Classic was a great success and enjoyed by all involved. The trail conditions were excellent”, said Whaleback president Greg Noonan in a release. “The funds raised for the Heart and Stroke Foundation very gratifying”
