ONTARIO WINTER GAMES.
MUSKOKA — The Ontario Winter Games launched in Huntsville over the weekend with cross-country ski events. Arrowhead Park was the site of two days of exciting action, glory and heartbreak as young athletes vied for gold.
Bracebridge’s Natalia Hawthorn finished the best of Muskoka’s homegrown talent, winning two silver medals against fierce competition.
Arrowhead Nordic Ski club had an impressive six athletes in the competition. While the rest of Muskoka’s young skiers did not medal in the events, they were proud to be a part of the competition.
“I’m excited. Just the fact that I’m here is pretty amazing,” said Huntsville competitor Monique Derbyshire.
Teammate Ben Osorio agreed.
“I’m having a good time,” he said. “It’s a pretty cool experience doing the winter games — to get to race with this calibre of skier.”
John Cowan, the chief of competition for the event, called the sprint event roller derby on skis.
“I had to rejig the whole course,” he said. “They were going way too fast. We set up last weekend, but with the rain freezing up things get really glazed.”
In the end the course featured a steep, short uphill before meandering through the woods. Cowan expected to see strategy and drama at the buttonhook turn, but it was the uphill after a brief straightaway that proved the greatest challenge to racers.
Spectators dubbed it heartbreak hill as they watched skiers in the lead lose their traction and their place on the incline. In more than one heat a skier went down, toppling those trailing like bowling pins.
Scott Aitchison, the chair of the Ontario Winter Games, was pleased with how the event unfolded.
“It’s a good trail run for the big events in March,” he said, adding that he was hearing terrific reviews from the provincial sports organizations, coaches and the athletes.
“Everything’s in great condition,” he said. The park spent so much money — a lot of time and energy has gone into making sure that everything is perfect and it shows. The staff at Arrowhead has done an amazing job; everyone is impressed. One ski official told me he’s been to Olympic events where lines weren’t as straight as ours.”
Aitchison said he was proud of the work done by the park, the staff, the volunteers and the ski club.
“This is a good news story for Arrowhead,” he said. “It’s good for Huntsville and good for Muskoka.”