Cloudy skies didn't keep the sun off the race course at Mount MacPherson last weekend (Jan. 11-12) as some 400 cross-country skiers from as far as Smithers and Strathcona competed at the annual BC Teck Cup 1.

Hosted this year by the Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club (RNSC), the province-wide event gives young and developing athletes the chance to compete and excel to new heights. More than 50 local skiers with RNSC alone competed Saturday and Sunday, with interval starts the first day and mass starts the second day.

"We are so stoked with the number of athletes and coaches and volunteers that we've got this year," said Mike Thomas, volunteer chief of competition for RNSC. "Some of them, it's their very first race, so being able to host races in Revelstoke is really important for us, to be able to show them that races aren't all scary."

On Saturday, for example, Hula Hoops and stuffed animals were added to the course to bring some joy and excitement for the younger athletes.

"A big part of our program is making it fun for the kids, as well as challenging them with some good skiing courses," Thomas said.

Ten-year-old Jade Savalsa Bowlen of RNSC, who raced Saturday and Sunday in U-12 girls 1, had a blast with friends along her 2.5-kilometre course.

"I've been waiting a long time to race and be here. I was really stoked when I came," she said. "I liked when everyone was just cheering me on at the end."

Four cross-country skiers from RNSC scored big in their events on both days. Beatrice Meulendyk (U-8 girls) came third Saturday and Sunday, Rowan Wild Gooliaff (U-8 boys) came first Saturday and second Sunday, Hamish Woodman (U-16 boys 1) came second Saturday and first Sunday, and Mandy Kellner (masters women) came third Saturday and Sunday.

On Sunday, local athletes saw particularly high success in their mass-start events. For RNSC, Ember Smith (U-16 girls 2) came third, Fiona Woodman (U-18 girls 1) came second, Ruby Serrouya (U-20 girls 1) came third, Pauline Forren (open women) came first, and Robyn Thomas (masters women) came second.

For Ella Fuller (U-16 girls 2) visiting with the Fernie Nordic Society, Mount MacPherson's trails may be a relatively flat course, but they revealed unique challenges to navigate during her 7.5-kilometre race that she won on Saturday.

"Hillier courses sometimes feel like you can break a bit more on the ups and downs, whereas if there's lots of flats, you're always having to work the hardest part of your body," said Fuller, who also competes in the Western Canadian Championships with RNSC's Smith and Woodman. "We're all on a provincial stream team, so we do see each other at other times during the year and get to train together, which is super fun."

Forren, who originally comes from Norway and has been coaching the younger RNSC skiers since May, said lead-up training was four days per week.

"The younger ones are focusing on skiing the course as hard as they can the whole way, and then the older ones might have a few more tactics so they can have some energy at the end of the race," she said. "But I think many kids are realizing that it's just as much a team sport as any other sport. You're all together on the course, you're warming up together, cooling down together, having snacks together."

When snow isn't available in summer, Forren and other RNSC athletes keep up their strength training with roller skiing and mountain biking.

Asked how long she trained for this event, Fuller said since November, but added, "I think it's more of a constant lift."

To see the full list of results, visit .