Tallon Noble of the Strathcona Nordics cross-country ski club is going to the World Junior Trials in Soldier Hollow, Utah on Jan. 3.
Noble began cross-country skiing with the Jackrabbit program at the age of five. Now 17 years old and in Grade 12, he has five years of racing under his belt with the Strathcona Nordics Junior Race team, and was also recruited to the BC Ski Team in 2014.
Passionate about Nordic skiing, Noble is completely committed to his training plan. His results are proof: BC Winter Games medalist, multiple provincial BC Cup medalist and overall aggregate age group winner 2013- 2016, Western Canadian Championship medalist and eighth overall aggregate at the National Championships, 2015 and 2016.
He is grateful to his sponsors, who include Ski Tak Hut, Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Society, Hornby Island Energy Bars, Current Environmental, and KV+ Poles. He also receives financial support from the Dave Battison Memorial Athlete Development Fund.
Noble’s present goals are podium finishes at Western Canadians in January, Whistler Olympic Park, and Ski Nationals in March 2017, Canmore Alta.
Representing B.C. at the Junior World Trials, Noble will be one of the youngest competitors. But he feels ready and is excited by this amazing opportunity.
“Grateful to his coach Andrea Stapff, and the hard-working board members of the Strathcona Nordics Ski Club who support him, Noble is ready for the next step – international racing!” said Strathcona Nordics’ communications director Lynn Swift.
Upon completion of the World Junior Trial races in Soldier Hollow, the Canadian World Junior team will be announced (approximately Jan. 11).
The age group World Nordic Championships are contested every year and include all three Nordic disciplines. Juniors compete in three individual events (skiathlon, sprint, interval start) plus a 4 x mixed relay.
Canada has won a number of medals at the Junior and U23 Championships, the most notable being a gold by Alex Harvey in the U23 skiathlon at the 2011 championships.
