PREECEVILLE - Hudson Maier of Preeceville showcased his hard work and skills when he reached his dream of topping the podium for his gold medal race.
The 2024/25 race season is underway with the Sask team competing at the Nordic Cup in Sovereign Lake B.C.. on Dec. 7 and 8. The Saskatchewan team took all 16 skiers to the event.
Hudson and Levi Maier of Preeceville competed and their dad Nathan Maier was their coaching support. Hudson is a member of the provincial team and Levi is on the development team. Nathan went as a coach.
Hudson found his way to the top of the podium with a gold medal in the U16 category mass start 5km classic on Sunday. The Nordic Cup featured racers from all over Canada and even the U.S. in his event.
Hudson was ninth in the sprint on Saturday and fifth in the 5km free skate on Friday. He won the mass start classic 5km race on Sunday. All races he entered were in the U16 category.
Levi Maier raced in the U16 category as well that featured over 50 racers from across Canada and some from the U.S.
Levi raced up in the U 16 category but he is only 13 so he was racing against competitors a year or two older but he did very well as well and was first in the U14s on Friday and second on Saturday.
Levi’s best result was on Friday in the interval start freestyle 5km race where he placed 17th in the U16 category. Hudson’s best was a gold medal in the U16 classic 5km but he was also fourth overall out of the U18/U16 category combined.
“In order to prepare for winter skiing events, they train all year round and go to training camps with the provincial and development teams in different parts of the province and in Alberta. They run and also roller-ski throughout the spring, summer and fall,” stated mom Megan Maier.