Huntsville High School Nordic Ski Program : Junior Boys/Girls 1998-1999 : 1999 International School Sport Federation (ISF) Ski Championships : Jeseník, Czech Republic
The Huntsville High School Nordic Ski Program’s junior boys’ and girls’ teams earned the berth and prestigious honor of representing Canada at the 1999 International School Sport Federation (ISF) Ski Championships in Jeseník, Czech Republic. Jeseník, a popular spa and tourist destination, situated on the eastern side of the country near the Polish border.
Founded in 1972, the ISF is an international non-profit sports organization supported by the International Olympic Committee. It comprises representatives from 134 member countries across five continents and more than 30 international sports representatives. The ISF serves as the umbrella organization and governing body for national school sport organizations worldwide and is recognized as the global high school championship governing body.
Huntsville High School’s Nordic program has a storied history of excellence in cross-country skiing, producing athletes who have gone on to compete at the post-secondary programs in Canada and USA, provincial teams, national teams, and even Olympic teams. The year prior to the 1999 ISF Ski Championships, Huntsville High School competed in the Ontario Federation of Secondary Athletic Associations (OFSAA) Nordic Championships. The junior boys’ team finished third, and the junior girls’ team earned silver, making them the provincial junior combined champions. This success led to the Canadian ISF Committee selecting both the boys’ and girls’ teams from Huntsville High School to represent Canada at the international level for the first time.
The Canadian team was coached by John Cowan, ChPC, and community coach Alison Waddington, with additional support from Dr. Bill Cameron. A parent committee, led by Joyce Wilson, managed fundraising and logistical preparations along with Reg Baker who worked on recruiting sponsorship. The girls’ team consisted of Heather deLagran, Kaitlyn Habermehl, Tarah Habermehl, Katie McPherson, and Sarah Strickland. The boys’ team included Greg Baker, Ian Drennan, Ryan Sandilands, David Tovee, and Matt Wilson. The community, including local businesses and schools, who provided tremendous support to prepare the team for this unique opportunity.
The event ran from February 26 to March 5, 1999, following months of training and preparation for the 20th edition of the ISF Ski Championships. Huntsville High School was the only North American team at the championships. The team departed Canada on February 26, four days before the competition began, to adjust to the time difference, acclimatize to the local culture, and familiarize themselves with the competition venue. The opening ceremony took place in downtown Jeseník, with 34 countries participating.
The first race occurred on February 27, with the boys competing in the 7 km freestyle race and the girls in the 5 km freestyle race. Two days later, the teams competed in the team relays, using the classic technique. Despite challenging snow conditions and warm weather, the Canadian teams held their own against major cross-country skiing nations such as Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Russia, Germany, and Italy. The Canadian athletes were frequently sought out by the media and other competitors, who engaged them in conversation to practice their English.
After the initial races, the girls’ team finished fifth, behind Russia, Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic. The boys’ team placed seventh, behind Austria, Russia, Germany, Norway, the Czech Republic, and Finland. In the team relay events, the girls’ team briefly held third place but ultimately finished fifth, behind Russia, Germany, Austria, and Norway. The boys’ team had a strong start but finished twelfth after an exchange error impacted their final score. Despite these challenges, the Canadian girls’ team achieved a historic fifth-place finish, becoming the first North American team to place in the top five.
At the final awards and closing ceremonies, Canadian pride shone brightly as the International School Sport Federation and the International Olympic Committee presented the Huntsville High School Nordic Ski Program Junior Girls’ team with the Fair Play Award.