RIPTON — On March 23 and 24, Ripton’s Frost Mountain Nordic Club and Middlebury College’s Rikert Nordic Center hosted the “Grand Prix,” a championship youth Nordic skiing event that culminated a winter-long race series for athletes between the ages of 10 and 13 from Canada and the Northeastern states.
The event was held in conjunction with the Championnat Jeunesse NorAM of Joliet, Quebec, and at the conclusion North American Youth Champions were crowned, according to Frost Mountain organizer Cameron MacKugler.
None of the local Frost Mountain skiers were so honored, but seven boys and two girls from the club raced in three events apiece.
Ripton’s Thomas Hussey, competing with other boys born in 2000, had the top finish for the male club members, taking third in a skate 6-kilometer race on March 23.
Cornwall’s Malia Hodges, born in 2002, also earned a third-place finish on March 23 in the girls’ 3K skate race.
The complete results for Frost Mountain skiers were:
DISTANCE SKATE
Boys’ 2002: 11. Owen Palcsik, Middlebury, 15:44; 13. Jack Christner, Ripton, 17:06.5.
Boys’ 2000: 3. Hussey, 20:55.2.
Boys’ 1999: 6. Nick Wilkerson, Middlebury, 20:44.5; 15. Harlow Punderson, Weybridge, 25:45.6; 16. Cade Christner, Ripton, 26:18.4; 17. Parker Castle, Cornwall, 34:18.6.
Girls’ 2002: 3. Hodges, 13:02.6.
Girls’ 1999: 6. Amelia Ingersoll, Middlebury, 25:34.5.
SKATE PROLOGUE
Boys’ 2002: 11. Palcsik, 5:59.9; 12. Christner, 6:01.05.
Boys’ 2000: 3. Hussey, 4:20.3.
Boys’ 1999: 5. Wilkerson, 4:04; 15. C. Christner, 4:50; 16. Punderson, 4:51.2; 17. Castle, 6:24.
Girls’ 2002: 4. Hodges, 5:30.3.
Girls’ 1999: 6. Ingersoll, 5:00.6.
2-RACE CLASSIC PURSUIT
Boys’ 2002: 11. Palcsik, 5:59/16:48.7; 12. Christner, 6:01/18.23.
Boys’ 2000: 5. Hussey, 4:20/12:38.7.
Boys’ 1999: 5. Wilkerson, 4:04/11:36.6; 15. Punderson, 4:51/15:11.1; 16. C. Christner, 4:50/17:17.8; 17. Castle, 6:24/19:58.2.
Girls’ 2002: 4. Hodges, 5:30/15:36.6.
Girls’ 1999: 5. Ingersoll, 5:00/13:57.3.