(NORTH BAY, Ont): The Algoma Thunderbirds Nordic Ski Team had a strong showing at the Ontario Cup (OCUP) race this past weekend, with multiple top-10 finishes and a historic performance by Ruby, marking the highest-ever place ranking for an AU nordic ski athlete at an OCUP event.

Ruby had an outstanding weekend, securing 8th place in her category on both days—finishing the 7km Classic Mass Start on Sunday with a time of 27:09.1 and clocking 39:06.7 in the 10km Skate Interval Start on Saturday. Her performance set a new milestone for the Thunderbirds at the provincial level.

Trysten also delivered a top-10 finish, placing 8th in the U20 category in Saturday's 10km Skate Interval Start with a time of 37:12.4. Meanwhile, Emma placed 10th in her category, finishing in 56:25.4, and Keon secured 15th place with a time of 47:48.1 in the same event.

This weekend was a significant first for Keon, Emma, and Ruby, as they competed in their first-ever OCUP race. Despite Sunday's bitter cold at -18ºC, the Thunderbirds pushed through the conditions with determination and smiles, enjoying the challenge under the shining sun.

The team looks forward to building on this momentum as they continue their season. Stay tuned for more updates as the Thunderbirds take on their next competition!