The Nipissing Lakers Nordic Ski team opened their season on the road in Ottawa, ON, prior to Christmas.

Seven Lakers stepped up to the lined for three events: a classic interval start, classic sprint, and skate interval start events.  

The event results and details can be found here: https://zone4.ca/event/2025/3bQGjv/ 

For the classic Interval start race, Mia Smith lead the Lakers women's team in the University category for 7th, followed by Seanie Craig in 25^th and Alieya Pires in 28th.
One the men's side, Eily Woodman was fastest in 21^st followed by Ewan Pengra in 24th, Nathan Golisky in 27^th and Morgan Young in 28th. 

In the classic sprint, 5 out of 7 Lakers advanced to the heat rounds of top 30 in their categories showing strong program depth in a field of over 90 open men and 50 open men. Smith was 5^th University women in the qualifier, followed by Craig in 22^nd and Pires in 29th. In the men's university sprint qualifier, Pengra lead the way in 18th, followed by Woodman 28th, Young 29^th and Golisky 31st. 

Big Congrats to Seanie Craig advancing all the way to Junior women's final where she finished 4th!

In the last event, Smith cracked the women's University podium for a second place finish with Craig 16^th and Pires 32nd.
On the men's side, Golisky was the top Laker in 21st, then Woodman 25th, Pengra 26th, and Young 38th.

Two athletes, Nathan Golisky and Eily Woodman then raced this past weekend in Thunder Bay oat the second Ontario cup event which featured an interval start, mass start and sprint race. 
In the University category racing Lakehead athletes, Golisky showed strong form with two 2^nd place finishes and one 7th, while Woodman skied strong to 5th, and two 6^th place finishes. 

The Lakers travel to the Soo for Ontario Cup #3 January 17th and 18th. 

#GoLakers