Vancouver Island was represented at the BC Talent Squad (BCTS) spring camp by five athletes and two coaches, out of a total complement of 11 coaches and 57 athletes from all over B.C.

BCTS is designed as a training and bonding opportunity for athletes in the 12-14-year-old (2008 thru 2010) age group. Strathcona Nordics junior team members attending were Amelia Moore and Annika Bohac from Comox, Ben Galik from Royston, and Max Sauter and Cameron Meldrum from Campbell River.

The camp featured three full days of activities, including rollerski technique sessions for both classic and skate, an uphill 2K double-pole time trial, as well as a variety of strength and mobility sessions. The Canadian Sports Institute (Pacific) staff provided nutrition and hydration workshops, which gave athletes some hands-on practice making athletic snacks and sports drinks, and left everyone with recipes to take home. Evening sessions included mental skills workshops and physiology discussions, arming athletes and coaches with skills to optimize performance in training and racing.

It is a challenge to hold the attention of such a large group of tired young athletes, but all presenters were incredibly successful due to the quality of the material and excellent delivery. The camp culminated with Sunday morning鈥檚 trail runs ranging from 13 to 18 km in distance, and 400 to 700m in elevation gain. Impressive, after two full days of non-stop training.

Cross-country camps held in Whistler are a fantastic opportunity set in a fantastic venue, featuring accommodation and food by the Whistler Athletes Centre (WAC), a Whistler Olympic Legacies venue for sports of all types. The training opportunities here are top-notch, with access to the trails at the Whistler Olympic Park (site of the 2010 Olympics as well as the 2023 World Junior Championships) as well as the multitude of trails and roads right out of the front door of the WAC.