The Bridger Ski Foundation (BSF) Nordic team kicked February off by heading down to Jackson, WY, for their second weekend of Intermountain Junior National Qualifier (JNQ) races. With one JNQ race weekend under their belt, the contingent of 49 BSF athletes really found their footing, highlighted by numerous podiums and break out races.
The weekend started with a classic individual start on Saturday (2/7), and BSF stormed to a dominant 11 podium finishes:
- Necia Nicholas and Ayden Brutger finished 1st and 2nd in the U18/20 girl’s 7.5k
- Kristian Hudacek and Zach Shockey finished 2nd and 3rd in the U18/20 boy’s 7.5k
- Claire Rucker and Hazel Gault finished 1st and 2nd in the U16 girl’s 7.5k
- Finn Wirth and Ross Bowman finished 1st and 2nd for the U16 boy’s 7.5k
- Gabe Larson finished 1st in the U14 boy’s 2.5k
- Samantha Rucker finished 2nd in the U14 girl’s 2.5k
- Simeon Larson finished 1st in the U10 boys 1.5k
These podium finishes along with the numerous other top 10 results made for one of BSF’s most successful race days in history!
Sunday’s race (2/8) was a skate mass start ranging from 1.5k for U10s to 10k for U18/20s. Carrying momentum from Saturday’s races, BSF had another great day. Mass start racing means tactics and strategy were more at play than the day prior; in each race, competitor’s skied in tight packs, not breaking up until the last moments.
The day started with the U18/20 10ks, where Kristian Hudacek and Necia Nicholas both skied bravely to 2nd place finishes in their respective races, Charlotte Wilson rounded out the girl’s podium in 3rd. U16 5ks were next, Finn Wirth and Ross Bowman stuck with the lead pack all the way to the line, finishing 2nd and 4th respectively. On the girl’s side, Claire Rucker struck hard at the end for the win, with Hazel Gault just behind in 5th. The Larson boys, Gabe and Simeon, both secured their second wins of the weekend in the U14 boy’s 2.5k and U10 boy’s 1.5k respectively. In the U14 girl’s 2.5k, Evelyn Scranton and Frances Makoutz skied through the field to impressive 3rd and 4th place finishes.
Overall this weekend was one for the books for BSF Nordic. Coaches were impressed with the energetic yet focused atmosphere that each racer brought to the tent. The upward trajectory from January’s races in Utah is awesome to see and should make for some very exciting racing in West Yellowstone at the last IMD Junior National Qualifiers of the season on February 21st and 22nd!
