Hundreds of racers are expected to come to 100 Mile House for this year's Teck Northern Cup race.
The race, hosted by the 100 Mile House Nordic Ski Society, is a part of the broader Teck Northern Cup series that is held across northern B.C. throughout February and early March. It is organized by Cross Country B.C. and is the third race in the series following the first two held in Smithers on Feb. 8 and 9 earlier this month.
"We're sort of just barely into the northern zone of the province, for Cross Country B.C," Gary Carlson, who is the chief of the 100 Mile race, said.
Carlson says that the race is an individual start race, which ranges with age divisions ranging from U6 to U23 - with the divisions going up by two years.
"We'll start off with the youngest kids going out first, and working up to the oldest racers," Carlson said. "They go out in 15-second intervals individually."
The races will take place at the 100 Mile Nordic's ski trails at their day lodge, where a makeshift stadium is set up.
"The start and the finish line will be inside the stadium. Skiers go around and out on various trails depending upon their age. The youngest will ski 700 meters, and the oldest skiers will be skiing seven point five kilometres," said Carlson.
The races will begin at 11 a.m. and Carlson predicts that around 50 to 80 skiers will compete.
Carlson adds that it is exciting to hold the competition again after the club had to cancel last year due to a lack of snow. He hopes to see people from all over the Cariboo and northern B.C. come to 100 Mile House for the competition.
"I'm sure we have skiers coming from Kamloops, from Quesnel and from Williams Lake. Hopefully, we'll get skiers from a little bit further north, and that would be great," Carlson explained, naming Vanderhoof and Burns Lake as places skiers would also be coming from.
In addition, Carlson is giving thanks to the volunteers who had helped to make the race possible - which he said was around 80.
"I just want to tell everybody thanks, and it wouldn't happen without them," Carlson said.
Registration for the race is open until Feb. 19.
After the 100 Mile Nordics Teck Northern Cup series race ends, there will be another race in Burns Lake on Feb. 23, before the entire series wraps up in Vanderhoof for its series finale on Mar. 8.
