XC Ottawa managed to get in touch with a number of prominent skiers who grew up skiing in Ottawa. We asked them for their thoughts on the season just passed, their goals for next year, and their focus for the upcoming National Championships. We’ll post a new one every day as Nationals goes on!
Today we are talking to John Rennie. John is from Ottawa and grew up skiing with the Nakkertok Ski Club. He now lives in Thunder Bay where he trains with the NTDC.
Question: How has your season
progressed up to this point? Have you been happy with the way things
have gone? What were the highlights of you season?
Answer: My season had a slow
and frustrating start, but it has been picking up ever since. I have
been racing well since mid January and I had some great races at Easterns.
Being able to watch the World Cups out west were a great experience
and very inspiring.
Question: What are your plans
for next season? Do you have any specific training or competition goals
for the spring/summer, and for next winter?
Answer: Regardless of where
I end up next year, I’m going to be training hard so that I can race
my fastest in the winter. I’ve learned a lot about how my body responds
to different types of training this year, and I hope to use this knowledge
to make my training as effective as possible.
Question: Are you going to
Nationals this year? Do you enjoy racing at Nationals, and if so, why?
Answer: I’m certainly going
to be at Nationals. Nationals are a bit of a mixed bag for me, because
I always look forward to the races and leave with good memories, but
I feel the pressure of having to perform at the biggest races of the
year.
Question: What are your goals
for Nationals? What race will you focus on at Nationals, and why?
Answer: The 10 km Classic and
the Sprint are my best races. I hope to win a medal in the Sprint, and
have a top 5 in the classic race.
Question: What was your favourite
National Championships you’ve ever been to? Why?
Answer: My first Nationals,
back in 2002 in Canmore, were quite an experience because it was my
first time competing at the national level. When we finally got to race,
I was able to put in some good results. Last year’s slush fest was
pretty fun too, but the race cancellation was a bummer.
Question: Do you like Lappe
Nordic Centre (host of this year’s Nationals)? If so, why?
Answer: I certainly do! I’ve
been fortunate to be able to train at Lappe this winter and have come
to love the flow of the courses, as well as the challenges of the (abundant)
hills. Whether they were good races or bad races, I always have fond
memories of racing at Lappe because of the atmosphere and hype that
the place generates.
Question: Who are your picks
to win the following races:
Men’s Club Relay: Foothills
Women’s Club Relay: Foothills
Men’s Sprint: Sean Crooks
Women’s Sprint: Dasha Gaiazova
Men’s 50k: Dan Roycroft
Women’s 30k: Milaine Theriault