Whether one is at the rinks or out on the local trails, it's uncanny how many surnames cross off regularly in both settings.
A recent set of elementary nordic ski races at Kivi Park would assemble students from R.L. Beattie, MacLeod, Walden, Lo-Ellen and Valley View, with many a familiar face from Sudbury and area hockey teams.
Perhaps it's the skate style of skiing that was being showcased, but for Davie Dale, it's likely as much about simply being an all-around athlete. "I've been doing (nordic) skiing for a couple of years but I used to also do classic," said the 10 year-old daughter of former Sudbury Wolf and NHL draftee Andrew Dale.
"In 2021, I think I started skate skiing," continued the grade five student at R.L. Beattie. "It's a bit of a different feel, but doing my stride is kind of sort of the same thing." Either way, she has picked it up quickly, capturing top spot in the grade 5/6 girls event, just ahead of schoolmates Julia Masters and Charlotte Seguin.
"When I go out with my sister, she's getting me to offset at the hills. Sometimes I just stomp, so that's what I am working on."
The youngest of four children in another highly athletic family, Parker Howland still ranks hockey ahead of skiing, though he's thankful for how the two disciplines tend to interact.
"My hockey helps me with my balance and my skate skiing too - and just my speed," said the 11 year old grade six student at Walden Public School who finished third in the grade 5/6 boys race, about 20 seconds back of the Beattie tandem of Ryan Pineau and Wyatt Moore.
Another fan of skate style over classic, Howland is simply keen on getting a chance to participate, above all else. "I like just getting outside and missing school," he said with a smile.
"Skate (style) is my favourite. You just feel like you can glide lots and you go way faster. I'm not really good at gliding in classic."
Following are the top five finishers in all four distances and age brackets, with another set of races set for February 16th in Capreol:
Girls - Grades 5 & 61st - Davie Dale (R.L. Beattie) - 7:33
2nd - Julia Masters (R.L. Beattie) - 7:46
3rd - Charlotte Seguin (R.L Beattie) - 8:!2
4th - Quinn Andler (R.L. Beattie) - 8:13
5th - Georgia McShane (R.L. Beattie) - 8:29
Boys - Grades 5 & 6
1st - Ryan Pineau (R.L. Beattie) - 7:02
2nd - Wyatt Moore (R.L. Beattie) - 7:10
3rd - Parker Howland (Walden) - 7:35
4th - Cody Campbell (Walden) - 7:46
5th - Grady Janeczek (Walden) - 7:54
Girls - Grades 7 & 8
1st - Megan Pineau (Lo-Ellen) - 10:35
2nd - Sophie Gauld (Lo-Ellen) - 10:37
3rd - Emma Mourre (MacLeod) - 11:16
4th - Avery Brooks (Valley View) - 11:17
5th - Alexis Nicholls (Lo-Ellen) - 12:12
Boys - Grade 7 & 8
1st - Eden Abols (Lo-Ellen) - 9:30
2nd - Jack Rhymer-Mahaffy (Lo-Ellen) - 11:44
3rd - Luke Thomas (Lo-Ellen) - 12:35
