Whitehorse’s Dahria Beatty will be competing in the junior women’s level for years to come.
On Wednesday, the 15-year-old competed in her second race, a five-kilometre classic at the World Junior Cross Country Ski Championships in Hinterzarten, Germany, finishing 25th.
Beatty, the youngest skier in the 82-skier junior women division, started in 12th place before dropping 13 spots.
“I was very happy with my race,” wrote Beatty in a media release. “Since I started so early, when I finished I was in 1st place - I got to sit on the throne at the finish until someone came in with a faster time. It was such a cool experience.”
Canadian teammate and fellow Yukoner Emily Nishikawa, 20, also competed in a five-kilometre classic for the under-23 women’s division on Thursday, finishing 31st. To start the week, Nishikawa came 23rd in a sprint race.
Beatty, a distance skier, came 54th in the sprint race.
“The sprint on Monday was also fun,” wrote Beatty. “In a way, it was a harder race for me but a good start all the same. Seeing all the other competitors from so many nations is slightly overwhelming yet super cool at the same time - it is hard to describe.
“Monday night was the opening ceremonies and we all paraded through downtown Hinterzarten. The ceremonies themselves had a lot of talking but we got a chance to see all the different teams and meet the Canadian Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping team. Tomorrow is another training day for us juniors before the pursuit on Friday.” (Tom Patrick)