Two Cascade HS Students Get to Compete at Junior Nationals for Cross Country Skiing

Cascade High School students Stella Johnson and Derek “Buster” Richardson are missing six days of school to fulfill ambitious goals. They are competing at Cross Country Skiing Junior Nationals, hosted by Auburn Ski Club at Donner Summit in California. They are going as part of a 36-member contingent representing the Pacific Northwest Ski Association.

In early March, these skiers are racing against the best in the country, vying for the podium in their two-year age brackets. This is Johnson’s third trip to Nationals and Richardson’s second. They are joined by fellow Leavenworth Winter Sports Club teammates Haley Loewen and Liam Newman, both of Wenatchee, and both qualifying for their first time.

To get there, these teens started competing in December, accruing points over the season. Skiers must finish near the top of their age group four or more times over six to eight races. They must be proficient in both skate and classic techniques. Richardson, Johnson, Newman and Loewen have proven they have stamina, technical prowess and consistency across a range of conditions.

A highlight of the season for Richardson was a race in the Methow. “At the classic sprints all ages were mixed together, so I got to race against older guys. It gave me confidence for SoHo [Soldier Hollow, the last and largest qualifying race].”

Johnson preferred the most technical race of the season. “The skier cross race in Spokane had jumps and bumps and berms. The atmosphere was great. Everyone was so excited, and there were so many spectators.”

Between the thrill and focus of two-day race weekends, there were hours and hours of training. Although racing is mostly solitary, improvement and results are due, in large part, to the support of teammates and coaches.

“Cross country skiing is a hard sport. Sometimes it’s bad weather, we do intervals, or we ski for two or more hours at a time. Having my teammates go through all of that with me inspires me,” said Johnson.

Richardson added, “I get to ski after school with friends. We laugh a lot while training. I wouldn’t ski if I didn’t have people I liked to ski with.”

Coaches are unsung heroes, because most work full-time at other jobs, and then spend countless hours helping these young skiers, sacrificing some of their own ski time in the process. Johnson and Richardson had many coaches this season, under head coach Nancy Bywater-Johnson, Stella’s mother. “It’s really helpful to have several different coaches,” said Richardson. “They each have their own way of explaining things. I can hear the same concept from different angles.”

“My coaches help with a training plan, so I know when to do intervals and when to go easy,” said Johnson. “At the races they help us warm up, and they work hard waxing skis. At the Methow classic sprints, our three waxing coaches handled 300 skis over the course of two to three hours.” This was part of a collaboration between the LWSC team and the teams from Plain and Ellensburg.

Balancing school, training, racing and sometimes full travel days can be very challenging. “During the winter we’re missing about one day a week of school,” said Richardson. “When we’re away, it’s about racing, resting, recovery and eating.” That doesn’t leave a lot of time for studying. But they get it done.

Johnson said, “Resting time can be for homework. Travel time is when I get a lot done. Cascade High School teachers are really supportive and flexible with our situation.”

Having been to Nationals before, Johnson and Richardson both expressed more excitement and less nervousness than previous years. For the ten days they’re away, they stay in rental houses with the other PNSA skiers. “I feel connected to skiers from the Methow and Bend. It makes Nationals less scary because I’m there with a lot of friends. Everyone is so nice. No beefing,” said Richardson.

            Skiers will race four times, spaced out approximately every other day. They have longer races in skate and classic, a sprint skate race, and a four-person team relay in classic.  “Junior Nationals is so much more than the four races,” said Johnson. “We’ll train on the off days. On other trips we’ve done fun stuff like going tubing, visiting the town, resting and relaxing together.”

            What are their hopes for Nationals? Johnson said, “Sprinting is my best distance. I hope to get a higher finish than I have before.”

            Richardson shared his ambition. “I’m hoping to pop some good races and get some top ten places.”

            They had similar advice for their younger teammates with dreams of Nationals. Richardson summed it up by saying, “Keep having fun and don’t worry how good you are right now, because all skiers develop differently. Hard work and dedication, while still having fun, will pay off in the future!”

            As of the writing of this article, Johnson had finished 48th in the classic long race and 33rd in the skate sprints. Richardson had finished 14th and 19th. Loewen had a DNS (Did Not Start) for the classic race and 59th for the sprint, and Newman finished 61st and 35th.