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Warm weather won't interrupt Tabor ski cross

Unseasonable warm and rainy conditions the past week have wreaked havoc on local ski hills and the speed skating oval but the show will go on for this weekend's Western Canada Ski Cross Series event at Tabor Mountain Ski Resort.
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Local skier Lucan Gairns competes in the Alpine Canada Nor-Am Cup men's Ski Cross at Tabor Mountain on Jan. 13.

Unseasonable warm and rainy conditions the past week have wreaked havoc on local ski hills and the speed skating oval but the show will go on for this weekend's Western Canada Ski Cross Series event at Tabor Mountain Ski Resort.

A total of 46 racers from seven clubs (Prince George, Smithers, Whistler, Quesnel, Grande Prairie Edmonton and Lake Louise) have entered the two day event, with racing set for Saturday and Sunday. Racers will compete in under-12, under-14, under-16 and under-18/open class categories.

Each racer is eligible to compete in a minimum of two heats each day.

Tabor owner Fern Thibault says his crew has been working hard the past two days to prepare the course for this weekend's events. Tabor hosted Nor-Am ski cross races last weekend.

"The races are a go, it's been freezing here and it's colder than in town so the snow is workable," said Thibault. "There are lots of people coming from out of town for this one so we didn't want to cancel it out."

Today will be a practice day. Racing starts at 1 p.m Saturday and Sunday.

Unfortunately for cross-country skiers and skaters, the city's outdoor facilities are closed.

The 400-metre ice oval at Exhibition Park looked more like a lake Thursday and until the weather cools and volunteers can build the ice back up again it will remain closed.

At Otway Nordic Centre just west of the city, the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club made the decision to close its trails Thursday due to unsafe conditions. School group sessions were canceled and the club's evening programs were directed off the normal routes to proceed on safer trails. More information is available on the club's website, caledonianordic.org.