Cross-country skiing's Sr. Nationals was held at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center from Jan. 1-7. Photo: TownLift

MIDWAY, Utah — The Soldier Hollow Nordic Center (SOHO) hosted cross-country skiing’s Sr. Nationals between Jan. 1 – 7. This was an FIS and a U.S. Ski Team event with some NCAA athletes, ski clubs, and included a para/sit ski category.

There were 5, 10, and 20-kilometer classic and skate sprint style races for men and women in varying age classes with participants in town from coast to coast and most states in between.

Park City’s Sydney Palmer-Leger, who skis for the University of Utah, earned second place on the first day. Palmer-Leger’s brother Drew, and two of their cousins, coach and wax tech for her former team, Park City Ski and Snowboard.

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Seven-time Paralympian, two-time gold medalist and Park City Ski and Snowboard Team (PCSS) coach Steve Cook told TownLift, “By having Sr. Nationals at SoHo it gives the PCSS athletes a chance to compete against the top Nordic skiers in the USA and see skiers who have just come back from the World Cup or who maybe heading over.” Cook competed at this venue during the Salt Lake 2002 Paralympic Games.

Keely Fischer, a member of PCSS along with teammates like Teagan Hoffman, got a glimpse of what it might be like to ski alongside collegiate skiers on the short list of schools they may apply to in the next few years. The other NCAA athletes are fast, but Fisher clocked quick individual laps to be temporarily among the top 40 of the field.

“I have always loved to race, so to be able to do it at such a high level has been amazing. It has been very competitive and eye-opening for me; overall, it was a great experience,” Fisher told TownLift.

Paralympic multi-medalist Oksana Masters came away with a win, and on day four, Wes Campbell, a Park City High School graduate and PCSS athlete currently skiing for Michigan Tech University, got a fourth place.

First places were awarded to The University of Colorado, Alaska Pacific University, Stratton Mountain School in Vermont, Sun Valley Team of Idaho, The University of Vermont, and Mount Bachelor Ski Team in Oregon, to name a few.