Two local sisters are pushing their limits on and off the slopes, setting them up to compete in this year’s cross country skiing nationals.
Anika and Nadia Wallin made the trek out to Gatineau, Quebec to compete in the 2024 Nordiq Canada Ski Nationals, which were held March 5-17. The sisters are accompanied by their father, Paul, and their mother, Bev Rooke, who is also their coach.
Each racked up an impressive four medals each. Nadia won silver medals in the skate sprint, 5 km skate ski, and 7.5 km skate ski, with her points earning her the aggregate gold medal across her age category. Anika also won silver medals in the skate sprint, 5 km skate ski, and 7.5 km skate ski, and her points earned her the silver medal for her combined points overall for U18 girls.
The effort has Cross Country BC calling the Williams Lake Cross Country Ski Club “the little club that could.”
READ MORE: Wallin sisters are putting Williams Lake on map at ski nationals
The Wallin sisters have been skiing with the Williams Lake Cross Country Ski Club since 2012, and have dedicated many hours of training through both winter and summer months to improve their skills and fitness to be competitive at a national level. Guided by Rooke, they have worked with each other as well as another teammate, Jessabelle Trelenberg, who competes in biathlon, to train several days each week throughout the year.
Both sisters were selected to represent B.C., with Anika on the BC Ski Team competing in the U18 girls category and Nadia on the BC Development Squad in the U16 girls category. Anika was also chosen to attend the Nordiq Canada Prospects camp after skiing to a third-place aggregate placing at the 2023 nationals.
They also participate in other sports as well to help diversify their training. As Rooke explains, it is important for both sisters to stay active and find new ways to create a competitive environment.
“Being such a small club has both its advantages and disadvantages,” she said. “We have fewer kids to create a large team atmosphere and the support that comes from this, but we do have more opportunity to be flexible with training plans.”
She goes on to explain that Anika and Nadia have found platforms such as Strava, an app that connects athletes with each other through different sports, to be motivating as they can follow and stay up-to-date with their teammates in other regions of the province throughout the year.
Despite a lack of snow this year in Williams Lake and around the province, Anika and Nadia have been able to continue their training, through running, biking, gym, elliptical and pool workouts when skiing was not possible. They were also able to train at Sun Peaks and Silverstar on snow thanks to support from friends.
“This lack of snow and a strong mindset to work through adversity has prepared the girls for the Ski Nationals where snow conditions have been very challenging,” Rooke said. “There have been many last-minute changes to the schedule with warm weather and rain wreaking havoc with the courses.”
Nadia, who is competing in her first nationals, says she is grateful for all the hard work from the volunteer committee to make the ski courses after the rain washed most of the snow away, and references her training from back home when dealing with unforeseen circumstances.
“We have learned to be adaptable this year in our training, so I feel less stressed with all the last-minute changes,” she said. “They are unable to set classic tracks with the lack of snow, so all races are now skate, which I enjoy.”
Anika said she is thankful for her family, coaches back in Williams Lake and around the province, and her wax technician, Rob Kitamura, as well as her teachers whom she says have been “very understanding and supportive” of her time away. She is also appreciative of the Williams Lake Cross Country Ski Club for their moral and financial support.
“At the end of the season, I will have to make a tough decision to determine if I will be able to attend university and ski competitively at the same time,” she said.
Before she makes that decision, though, Anika will be attending some races in the United States with the BC Ski Team at the end of the month.
“It will be an exciting opportunity to ski with my teammates against some international competition, and I’m really looking forward to it,” she said.
READ MORE: Wallin sisters are putting Williams Lake on map at ski nationals
Don’t miss out on reading the latest local, provincial and national news offered at the Williams LakeTribune. Sign up for our free newsletter here.
