The Durango Nordic Ski Club (DNSC) race team has been on a roll this season, with strong performances across three major events in Aspen, Crested Butte, and Frisco.
On Feb. 1-2, the team competed at the Aspen Junior National Qualifier (JNQ), facing unusually warm conditions. Some skiers even raced in shorts and tank tops.
Despite the challenging waxing conditions, the coaches rose to the occasion, ensuring the Durango athletes had fast skis for the hilly, technical course. Drawing on their training at the Durango Nordic Center, the Durango racers pushed the climbs and maintained speed on the demanding descents. The team’s adaptability and grit were on full display.
Next up was the Crested Butte JNQ, where the team’s strength and preparation paid off in a big way. Jack Purcell officially qualified for junior nationals. His determination and consistency throughout the season earned him a well-deserved spot among the region’s best.
The excitement continued at the U14 Festival in Frisco, where DNSC’s younger athletes showcased their speed and teamwork. Quinn Connors took home the win in the race on Saturday, with Janelle Dingler finishing sixth, Archer Nicovich ninth, and Kyla Nicovich fifth. The momentum carried into Sunday’s relay, where our team placed an impressive fourth overall.
Even the coaching staff got in on the action – assistant coach Abe Ott teamed up with Vail’s Christine Horning to take second place in the coaches’ relay. By the end of the weekend, Janelle Dingler was ranked sixth overall in U14 standings and Archer Nicovich 10th, highlighting the strength and depth of DNSC’s program.
Purcell went on to compete at junior nationals, held at Soldier Hollow in Utah from March 6–15. He finished 24th in the U16 men’s classic interval start 5-kilometer race. Purcell finished 49th in the U16 men’s freestyle mass start 7.5K race and 67th in the U16 men’s freestyle sprint.
“It was an amazing opportunity to represent Durango,“ Purcell said. “It felt really good to see my hard work pay off so that Durango could be represented on the national stage. Racing alongside top athletes from across the country, he was especially inspired by the level of competition and the chance to see skiers from regions as far as Alaska and New England.“
Despite facing a mix of race results, Purcell left the event highly motivated. He said he had two good races and two mediocre races but learned a lot from those experiences to implement it into his training.
While Purcell was the only DNSC athlete at junior nationals this year, his experience has fueled his hope that more Durango athletes will qualify.
