Yesterday was International Women’s Day, and I had a fitting way to celebrate by participating in Nakkertok Nordic’s end of the year event, Thea’s Race. Nakkertok established the event to encourage women to demonstrate their competitive desire and enthusiasm for sport (something I”m passionate about too!). The event features races for all ages, and a recreational races as well on an easier loop, but the main focus is women’s participation.
The race is named after Thea Holloway, a founding member and past-president of Nakkertok, who made immense contributions to women and sport, and loved cross-country skiing, tennis, cycling or hiking. Thea’s daughter Sue Holloway is an active member of Nakkertok and a driving force for this event. (Sue followed her mother’s passion in a big way: she was the first Canadian to compete in both Summer and Winter Games in the same year – 1976, and won 2 medals in canoe sprint at the 1984 Summer Olympics).
XC Ottawa and Carleton University athletes excited to race!
Many thanks to the Holloway family, Nakkertok Nordic,
and the many volunteers that made this great event possible!
Women’s participation? I didn’t tally up numbers, but I think we can do better (Masters men certainly outnumbered master’s women by quite a bit). So if you’re a woman who enjoys skiing, find a partner and come out and enjoy the fun at Thea’s next year.
And here’s a “wipeout reel” on a tricky downhill, courtesy of Steve Paradine. Lots of wipewouts, but I have to call out some pretty skilled skiing from my XC Ottawa teammate Andre Marchand for his downhill teamwork (about 3:21 in video), and Nakkertok head coach Kieran Jones for his skier slalom at 5:00.
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