Seventeen U10, U12, and U14 Nordic athletes from Bridger Ski Foundation traveled all the way to McCall, ID for the IMD Youth Championships race weekend. This is our favorite race weekend of the year - where the positive team atmosphere highlights the spirit of Nordic racing. With each event you can see the athletes bring out the best in themselves by working hard and having fun together. Many other division teams drove into McCall from Tahoe, Mammoth, Auburn, and the Methow Valley - making up a field of over 220 racers competing in classic, skate and skier cross events.
Each year the BSF team has a costume theme - this year was Frogs! The kids (and coaches) enjoyed crafting their frog eye headbands and demonstrating their frog super powers throughout the weekend. The BSF frog family was a force of fun on and off the courses.
With cold but beautiful blue skies and sunshine on Saturday, the athletes participated in an interval-start skate race in the morning. In the afternoon the athletes completed a timed obstacle NordicX course. The highlight of the NordicX course may have been the mass-start coaches race! With a mix of costume and skill, the coaches successfully entertained their athletes and spectators.
Enthusiasm for skiing only grew as Sunday brought a snowy morning for the mass-start classic race. Cowbells and cheers could be heard from all corners of the course. Go, frog power!
BSF showcased an especially strong U14 girls team this season. These ladies have been working hard together the last couple of years and it shows! Five of the girls placed in the top 10 for the IMD U14 Cup.
All our racers showed grit and courage in their efforts at youth champs, with many taking on the challenge and thrill of traveling for the first time with the team. Opportunities for learning were plentiful and the cumulative power of progress through the weekend was obvious! Huge thank you to coaches, athletes and parents coming together in co-creating this weekend where you could see the life-long love of skiing growing in our team.
