Kirsty Bock had a tough go at the 2013 Haywood Ski Nationals, battling illness throughout the week-long event and not attaining the results she had hoped for.
Bock represented the 100 Mile Nordics Club and her University of British Columbia team at the cross-country ski championships at Whistler Olympic Park, March 23-30.
Her best result came in the 1.4-kilometre classic sprint qualifier event, where she placed 10th in the Junior Women’s division. Illness and a broken pole strap hampered her race, but Bock says she is happy with the outcome.
“My other races weren’t that great, and I didn’t race the 20-km race,” Bock says, adding she was advised by her doctor to pull out of the competition.
Weather during the nationals was sunny and warm and Bock says it was a challenge as she’s not accustomed to racing in such heat.
“It also makes waxing for classic races quite tricky.”
She credited her new coach, Jake Weaver, for addressing her ski waxing issues.
Bock is in her first year of study at UBC and says juggling school and skiing has meant some adjustments and good time management on her part, and she’s happy about being a member of the ski team.
“We have a really strong team here at UBC and it has been an essential part of my transition to university.”
At nationals, she had hoped to qualify for the 2014 university championships in Italy, but was unsuccessful.
“I still have lots of time for this, though, as I think I’ll be in university for a long time.”
