Bend, Ore. – Bend Endurance Academy Nordic racer Dakota Blackhorse-von Jess skied his way to 1st place in the USSA Nordic National Championships Classic Sprint being held in Houghton, MI. The classic sprint races were originally scheduled to take place Monday January 5th, but due to heavy snows and temperatures in the single digits race officials postponed the races until Tuesday. Race day saw over 8 inches of snow accumulate and provided challenging race conditions. “They do such an incredible job of maintaining the trails here. I’ve skied in better conditions but worse tracks,” stated von Jess after the races. “Today was all about skiing smooth and staying relaxed and finding the “go” when I needed it”
Blackhorse-von Jess found his “go” making it out of qualifiers in second place as he went into the sprint heats. The powerhouse sprinter then proceeded to race his way through the heats winning both his quarterfinal and semi final races before moving on to win the sprint finals by a commanding six seconds.
This is the second national title for the 28-year-old Bend resident who in 2013 won the skate sprint national championships. Dakota will be gunning for the top spot in the skate sprints this coming weekend as the USSA Nordic National Championships continue in Houghton, MI.
About Bend Endurance Academy
The Bend Endurance Academy is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. The Academy organizes and operates programs that promote health and wellness within Oregon. The Academy provides athletic coaching, mentorship, educational experiences, volunteer opportunities and events for a diverse group of youth, young adults, and other individuals who desire to excel at endurance sports. Our programs are innovative, affordable and inclusive. We work to encourage participants to succeed throughout every step of their athletic and individual development.
The Academy’s mission is to “promote healthy living through active, outdoor experiences. We emphasize teamwork, personal growth and community responsibility.”
Bend Endurance Academy currently offer programs for Nordic Skiing, Cycling, and Rock Climbing.
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