A red streak crossed the finish line at the 27th Annual Reino Keski-Salmi Loppet Saturday, four minutes ahead of the closest competitor.
Organizers of the popular event were surprised and thrilled to learn Friday that Brian McKeever, triple gold medal Paralympian, was taking part in the 36 km race. McKeever demonstrated why he’s an Olympian, finishing the race in 1:45:58.
McKeever has just 10 per cent peripheral vision and sometimes uses a guide to race. Not Saturday, though.
He told former Olympian Marcia Beckner that he memorized the course.
“Brian was out front right from the powder guns start,” says Beckner. “Many skiers commented about him whooshing past as he streaked along the course. Amazing skier!”
He acknowledged anyone who called out to him along the way, and delighted young people afterwards by cheerfully posing for photos with those who asked.
McKeever told Beckner he really likes the course. He said he found the ‘bumps’ left by the tracksetter in places after the weather warmed up exciting, but not a problem.
McKeever said he came to the loppet because of its reputation and because his brother, Robin, who won the event a few years back, told him what a great event it is.
In 2010, Brian became the first Canadian athlete to be named to both Paralympic and Olympic teams. Canada’s coach decided, however, amid controversy, to not allow him to compete with the Olympic team.
Brian lives in Canmore and knows Salmon Arm’s Alysson Marshall from her skiing there with the Alberta Academy. He also knows Jesse Heckrodt through the national team and took a warm-down ski at the loppet with him.
Heckrodt was the top male local skier at the loppet, coming in fourth overall with a time of l:56:19.
The top female finisher was Mary Edgar of the Sovereign Lake Nordics, finishing in 2:15:08 and in 14th place overall. Top local female was Abbigail May with 2:16:08, coming in 18th overall.
Local skiers taking top spots in their age categories were: Julianne Moore in the six and under female; Finn Rodwell in the six and under male; Hanneli Ladyman in the seven to nine female; Stephen Moore in the seven to nine male; Andrew Nash in the 10 to 13 male; Thomas Hardy in the 14 to 17 male; Abbi May in the 30 to 39 female; and Gullan Hansen in the 70 and over female. In the recreation co-ed category, Sharon Fabro was first on the 10 km. course. All results are available at the Larch Hills Ski Club website.
A total of 437 skiers, up from 407 in 2010, registered for the race. The youngest was Madeline Wilkie, three-and-a-half, of the Larch Hills Ski Club and the oldest, Larry Boersma, 82, of Corvallis, Oregon.
A total of 232 Larch Hills skiers participated, along with visitors from throughout B.C, Alberta, Washington, Oregon, Ontario and Germany. More than 200 volunteers helped out, and $9,500 was raised for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Longtime co-ordinator Pauline Waelti said an inversion over the hill made waxing challenging, but overall the race was great.
“It was really good, we had a wonderful time,” she said, adding her thanks to the community, businesses and volunteers for all their support.