Cold temperatures forced changes to the 2024 Yukon Ski Marathon Saturday.

The Marathon was supposed to start at Fish Lake with longer distances of 45 and 27 km, but the start got moved to McLean Lake gravel pits.

The distances became 32, 25 and the original 12 km.

All three distances finished at the stadium at Mount McIntyre.

Youth skiers registered in the Junior 27 km course were moved to the 12 km course.

The temperature at the longer distance start was -22.5º C.

Véronique Thériault finished second behind Jasper Kohut in the 25 km.

“It’s really frosty but it’s OK. The snow is not as slow as I thought it would be. It’s not that bad, but it’s definitely chilly.”

Thériault said her race went well.

“This course, I feel, is really hard at the end. The Raven is just like, uphill. Finishing the last five 5 km straight up is not easy but other than that, it’s sunny and it’s nice. It was fun.”

Thériault added, “Thanks to the volunteers who stayed up there and gave us some warm drinks.”

Lois Johnston finished ninth in the 12 km.

Johnston said her race was “good.

“It’s cold. You can’t go full out. Breathing is a little tricky if you try to push it. But I was warming up. I took off a layer before I started because I thought, ‘No, I don’t want to be all bundled up.’

“The trail was fabulous. Volunteers were fabulous and the organization was great.”

Johnston said the 12 km was right for her.

“I have a sore shoulder so I haven’t been racing long (distances) this year.”

Johnston added, “It’s great to see so many people out here and for people to just not be afraid to go out and push themselves a little and not feel intimidated, is really great. It’s what it should be.”

Anett Kralisch accompanied her son Oliver Kralisch-Seguin, 11, in the 12 km and finished 13th, right behind her son.

“It was actually surprisingly beautiful. I had feared the worst but the sun made up for it. As long as you had a buff and some hand warmers it was beautiful.

“The trails were in really good condition so it was much more fun than we were expecting.

“The temperatures were too cold to make it a race, so we tried to take it easy as much as you can. We didn’t push it. We just enjoyed the sun and the trail.”

Kralisch’s daughter Emily Kralisch-Seguin, 13, was also in the 12 km and finished seventh.

Kralisch added a “big thank you to the organizers. I’m sure it’s a lot of work to organize it with the buses and the shuttles but also I know it was a lot of stress yesterday and during the week, given the cold forecast, and they pulled it off and I’m so thankful.”

Eric Bardin accompanied his son Louis, 8, in the 12 km, along with his wife, Merran Smith.

“It was cold, but it was good,” related Bardin. “The trail was really nice. It was great. In the forest, there was no wind, like at the finishing line.

“It’s a great event and I thank all the people who organized it. For us, it’s a nice way to spend a cold day outside, even if it’s windy and now we’re all set for the rest of the day.”

It was Smith’s first time doing a race.

“I really enjoyed it. It was fun.”

Smith said she would definitely do it again.

“Maybe in skate skis next time.”

Smith said only one of them had to accompany Louis.

“But I had no idea if I would be ahead of them or behind them and it ended up my goal was to try to stick with them.”

Louis finished 14th, Bardin was 15th and Smith came in 16th.

Smith added, “I’m really glad the sun came out today. It definitely made it a nicer journey.”

Stephanie Peacock came in third in the 25 km. It was her first time doing the Marathon.

“It was beautiful. Beautiful day. Harder for the volunteers than the skiers I think, when it’s this cold. So we appreciate their efforts.”

Peacock said the conditions were “a little cold at the start but the trails were beautiful and it was not as slow I thought.

“Lots of fun, lots of smiling faces on the trails.”

Peacock added, “a big thanks to all the volunteers and the people who made this happen.”

35 racers started the 32 km. Of those, 23 finished with a registered time.

To no one’s surprize, Graham Nishikawa finished first in the 32 km.

31 skiers started the 25 km, with 27 finishing.

All 36 athletes finished the 12 km,.

Junior Peter Embacher finished first in the 12 km.

Results for the race can be found at https://zone4.ca/race/2024-03-02/9ebf47e0/results