Two local athletes from the Kimberley Northstar Racers arrived in Copper Mountain, Colorado, to compete in the USASA National Skier Cross Championship held April 7 - 10

More than 1,600 of the top finishers from 35 different regions of the U.S. attended to compete against some of the best athletes from around the U.S. in their quest to become national champions. This is the largest amateur skiing event organized in the world.

Canadians India Sherret and Katie Grady from Cranbrook competed in the "Inland Northwest Series" where they were the series winners and as a result they were invited to compete in Copper Mountain.

The Skier Cross track was among the longest and most difficult courses of the season with additional combinations of features increasing the degree of difficulty including, "table top jumps", "aztecs", "multiple rollers", and a number of "large banked corners". In addition, the snow was hard making the track extremely fast. Up to six racers at a time battle it through the course.

India Sherret competed in the 14 - 16 year category and Katie Grady competed in the 11 - 13 year group.

Going into the competition India was ranked "number 1", nationally, and was a favourite to win the event. India clocked the fastest time in the qualifying run; however, during her first heat she miscalculated her landing off of a large jump and crashed. For qualifying with the fastest time India received the "Hot Shot award" texas size bottle of Cholula Hot Sauce from one of the sponsors.

Katie Grady clocked the 4th fastest time in the qualifying run, where only 4/10th of a second separated the top five racers. Katie competed in a number of heats to battle off the competition, winning every heat to make it into the final. The final run was a tight race where Katie narrowly missed winning and as a result came 2nd overall in the 11 - 13 year age category!

It was the experience of a lifetime for the girls, one they will never forget.