Lesley Beatson of Rossland made a strong return to international racing this month, representing Canada at the Masters World Cup of cross-country skiing in Klosters, Switzerland, held March 9 to March 15.
Racing in tough, warm conditions, Beatson earned a bronze in the 20 kilometre (km) skate-ski event.
In the 10 km skate, she narrowly missed the podium, finishing a razor-thin one-hundredth of a second behind third place.
She also skied the anchor leg for Team Canada in the 4 x 5 km relay.
A longtime competitor with World Cup experience, Beatson began cross-country skiing in the early 1980s as off-season training for road and track cycling.
To sharpen her technique, she enrolled in coaching courses and later became the first paid coach at the Black Jack Ski Club.
She’s raced three other Masters World Cups, all hosted in Canada, but a debilitating injury had kept her off the circuit for several years.
Returning to international competition marks a meaningful milestone.
Upon returning to Rossland, Beatson expressed deep appreciation for the support she received from friends and fellow skiers back home.
“It was particularly special to represent Canada with the recent threats to our sovereignty," Beatson reflected.
"Canadians are well loved in Europe and I had the benefit of hearing ‘go Canada’ shouted from the crowds lining the race course.”
Nearly 800 athletes from over 25 countries competed across various events in Klosters.
The World Masters Association, which launched in 1982 through the efforts of Canadian Bill Gairdner, provides a platform for both elite and recreational skiers to race on the world stage.
