Whitehorse to host Haywood national ski championships

The Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club is preparing to host the 2016 Haywood National Ski Championships. The event will see as manyas 500 elite skiers, along with coaches, team staff, families and fans travel to Whitehorse this coming March.

"This is a pretty big deal,"said Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club president Bill Curtis. "For many of the athletes, it's the highlight of their career."

The Haywoods run March 19-26. The eventwill also see the return of three of the Yukon's premier skiers. Emily Nishikawa, Knute Johnsgaard and Dahria Beatty have been training and competing at a national level in southern Canada.

"The local population love to see our local athletes here so it will be exciting and it's exciting for them because they get to show off their wonderful facilities,"said Curtis.

More than 200 volunteers have been recruited to work on logistics such as travel and accommodations. Some of the ski trails will have to be widened and equipment upgraded before the event.

The Haywoods will also provide an economicboost.Whitehorse hosted the championshipsin 2010 and an economic evaluation estimated the event provided a net benefit of over $1 million to the Yukon economy.