Sarah Beaudry, Matt Neumann and Emily Dickson didn't need much time to round into form.
Beaudry, Neumann and Dickson, biathletes who compete on behalf of the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club, were regulars on the medal podium at the first major event of the season. At the North American Cup No. 1, held in Canmore on the weekend, the trio combined for five top-three finishes.
In sprint events Saturday and Sunday, Beaudry placed second in the junior women's category (age 19-20) on the first day and finished at the front of the pack on the second day. In the senior men's class (21-and-over), Neumann crossed the finish line in second place on Saturday and was third on Sunday. Dickson (youth women, age 17-18) took fourth place on Saturday and moved up to second on Sunday.
Beaudry and Neumann live in Canmore and train there on a full-time basis.
Several other Caledonia Nordic members were also on their skis for the North American Cup and represented their club well. Claire Lapointe (senior girls, age 15-16) crossed the line sixth on Saturday and was an impressive third on Sunday. Josiah Fisher, meanwhile, placed fifth on Saturday and ninth on Sunday in the senior boys division. Also in senior boys, Bobby Kreitz was 10th on the first day and 11th on the second. Arthur Roots -- another Caledonia Nordic who lives and trains in Canmore -- placed 11th in the junior men's division on Saturday and improved one position on Sunday. As well, Logan Sherba (senior boys) ended up 17th on both days and Mark Hartley (senior boys) placed 22nd on Saturday.
Depending on the category, the races ranged in distance from six kilometres to 12 km. Competitors skied three loops and had two rounds of shooting (one prone, one standing). Conditions for the races were perfect.
The Caledonia team is staying in Canmore this week for a provincial training camp and will participate in North American Cup No. 2 this weekend.
The local biathletes are gearing up for the Western Canadian championships, Feb. 1-2 at Prince George's Otway Nordic Centre. That gathering will serve as a test event for the 2015 Canada Winter Games.
From Feb. 14-16, Otway will also host the Western Canadian cross-country ski championships, another Canada Winter Games test event.
