Rhys Davison uses his ski poles to get a fast start at the Teck Northern Cup Race #3. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Participants in the Teck Northern Cup Race #3 prepare to ski at the 100 Mile Nordics. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Juliette Leclair excitedly prepares to race at the 100 Mile Nordics last Saturday. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

The Teck Northern Cup Race #3 was kicked off by Madeline Vivier on Saturday. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Erik Lundsbye prepares to race in the Teck Northern Cup Race #3. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Grady Janischewski of Cariboo Ski Touring competes in the Teck Northern Cup Race #3. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Kahlan Parchomchuk races for the finish line at the 100 Mile Nordics. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Kahlan Parchomchuk races for the finish line at the 100 Mile Nordics. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Erik Lundsbye crosses the finish line at the 100 Mile Nordics’ Teck Northern Cup Race #3. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

100 Mile Nordic skier Kurt Lundsbye hits his stride during the Teck Northern Cup Race #3. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Mica Wallin hustles during the Teck Northern Cup Race #3 at the 100 Mile Nordics. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Polaris Adams bundles up against the cold while competing in the Teck Northern Cup Race #3. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Reid Parchomchuk competes in the Teck Northern Cup Race #3. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Cariboo Ski Touring’s Yuki Sturt skis in the Teck Northern Cup Race #3. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Samuel Friesen climbs a hill at the 100 Mile Nordics last Saturday. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Sawyer Milwain tucks her poles into her armpits as she skis down a hill. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Tala Levia-Denby, from the Williams Lake SKi Club, competes in the Teck Northern Cup Race #3. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

The Williams Lake Ski Club’s Zinny Jukic climbs a hill while competing in the Teck Northern Cup Race #3 last Saturday. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Katy Jasper of the Williams Lake Ski Club climbs up a hill in 100 Mile House as she competes in the Teck Northern Cup Race #3. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Katy Jasper of the Williams Lake Ski Club climbs up a hill in 100 Mile House as she competes in the Teck Northern Cup Race #3. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Oban MacLachlan competes in the Teck Northern Cup Race #3. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Irene Hyde competes in the Teck Northern Cup Race #3. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Pascale Sturt and Noah Duncan climb the final hill of the 100 Mile Nordics’ Teck Northern Cup Race #3 route. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Colton Robinson crosses the finish line at the Teck Northern Cup Race #3. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Rome Borsato-Stobbe races for the finish line at the Teck Northern Cup Race #3. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Participants in the 100 Mile Nordics’ Teck Northern Cup Race #3. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Juliette Leclair loves racing at the 100 Mile Nordics. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

The 100 Mile Nordics’ mascot Foxy Moonbeam poses with Erik Lundsbye (left), Kahlan Parchomchuk and Madelin Vivier after they competed in the Northern Teck Race. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

100 Miel Nordics president Chris Keam reads out the names of the winners of the Teck Northern Cup Race #3. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Nadia Wallin (left) accepts her medal for competing in the Teck Northern Cup Race #3 with Jessabelle Trelenberg, Rome Borsato-Stobbe and Ella Hyde. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

For Jessabelle Trelenberg, cross-country ski racing isn’t all about winning.

To the Williams Lake-area skier, it’s about lifting up and encouraging her fellow racers.

“Once you get into the higher levels, a big part of what the provincial coaches say is you have to build each other up to get better,” Trelenberg, 15, said. “You can’t be completely competitive all the time, so being happy for each other’s successes and building each other up is important.”

Trelenberg came first in the U16 Girls division Saturday at the 100 Mile Nordics’ Teck Northern Cup Race #3. About 49 young skiers between the ages of five and 17 competed on 100 Mile House’s cross-country ski course, located on Ainsworth Road.

“It was a great race today. The kids were positive, we had lots of volunteers, lots of parents and lots of grandparents. It’s always great to see,” Nordics president Chris Keam said. “Conditions for the race were close to ideal and we enjoyed racing under blue skies.”

100 Mile Nordic Juliette Leclair, 6, said she had fun, notching her second win. Last year she came in first place in the U6 division and this year first in the U8 Girls.

“I like competition and going down hills,” she said. “When you go down hills you go really fast and I like going fast.”

Trelenberg attends local races such as the Teck Cup as well as provincial races including the B.C. Cup and the Canadian National games. This March, she’s heading to Vernon to compete in the BC Winter Games.

“I really like that skiing is a personal challenge and you’re constantly overcoming things and improving yourself. No matter how good you get, there’s always something you can improve,” she said.

Keam said the 100 Mile Nordics have had a strong history of racing dating back to the first Cariboo Marathons. In the coming years, he said the club is eager to build up its race program and attract new people to the club, especially volunteers.

“We have lots of members and volunteers but we’ve always got room for more. Volunteers are the core of our club and the more volunteers, the lighter the load and we can do more,” Keam said.

The winners of the Teck Northern Cup Race #3 included Oihanes Moliner Clark (U16 Boys), Carter Bohme (U14 Boys), Irene Hyde (U14 Girls), Roan Davison (U12 Boys), Anna Burkey (U12 Girls), Mica Wallin (U10 Boys), Violet Burkey (U10 Girls), Rhys Davison (U8 Boys) and Erik Lundsbye. (U6).

patrick.davies@100milefreepress.net
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