Video Credits: Sovereign 2 SilverStar Ski Marathon
April 6 & 7 was a winning weekend for Nordic skiing in North America. The Sovereign 2 SilverStar Ski Marathon (S2S) reminded us that late season snow and great conditions are still possible!
The 2-day event featured two distances (21k and 40k), two ski techniques (Classic and Skate), co-hosted by two world-class venues – Sovereign Lake Nordic Club and SilverStar Mountain Resort.
The S2S attracted over 600 participants and 830 race entries. Skiers ranged from 6 to 83 years and came from all over North America and as far away as Switzerland and Australia.
Everyone was treated to some exciting finishes (including one that was to 100ths of seconds!), the highest number of young skiers ever participating, and many smiles!
The S2S doled out many prizes – to those who skied and to those who joined in a festival of fun, with a Movie Night, live music, discounts from S2S sponsors and a Silent Auction. The Silent Auction raised $12,300 for KidSport Vernon, the S2S partner charity that provides grants for kids who may otherwise miss out to play a season of sport.
Prize money for the Club Championships – a competition based on participation and distance traveled – went three deep this year. Congratulations to Montana Endurance Academy ($2,000), Space Dogs Nordic ($1,000) and Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club ($500). Another $500 was won by Black Jack Ski Club for the Best Club Story about increasing participation in Nordic skiing, including in the S2S.
Beautiful wooden plaques were awarded to the top 3 overall females and males in the Pacific Northwest Loppet Series; a series that combines events from the Columbia River Valley, the Callaghan Valley, the Methow Valley and the Okanagan Valley. Top 3 overall women: 1st Barb Riley, 2nd, Daphne Brown, 3rd Suzanne King. Top 3 overall men: 1st Dave Riley, 2nd Clark Shipka/ Mikhail Kudienko, 3rd Geoffrey Wasteneys.
Top 5 overall winners in the 40k distance received prize money, and 6th, 7th and 8th received one free race entry for next year. Medals were awarded to the top 3 overall finishers and by age group for the 21k and 40k distances, Classic and Skate. Congratulations to all who finished and all who placed. Final results are available in Zone4. Below are the top 3 overall winners for each distance, ski technique and gender.
Saturday Classic: 21k Males 1st Zibi Cieplak, 2nd Heron Land-Gillis, 3rd Hamish Woodman. Females 1st Fiona Woodman, 2nd Annika Heale, 3rd Annika Vipler. 40k Males 1st Xavier McKeever, 2nd Tom Stephen, 3rd Max Hollman. Females 1st Hannah Mehain, 2nd Anna Sellers, 3rd Dasha Atkins.
Sunday Skate: 21k Females 1st Fiona Woodman, 2nd Emelie Kvick, 3rd Lisa Johannesen. Males 1st Odin Berryman, 2nd Hamish Woodman, 3rd Jake Ulansky. 40k Females 1st Amanda Butler, 2nd Anna Sellers, 3rd Katya Semeniuk. Males 1st Tom Stephen, 2nd Max Hollman, 3rd Xavier McKeever.
The S2S 2024 Photo Gallery is live, with hundreds of photos that are all free to download*, and a 2-minute event video that’ll make you want to sign up for next year already! 2025 dates will be available soon at www.sovereign2silverstar.com
