Stamina required

Wanaka competitor No 170 Tim Davis (above) was one of those all masked up for the start of the 26th Merino Muster cross-country ski event at the Snow Farm in the Cardrona Valley on Saturday.

The masks were allowed to come off during the race, although competitors were reminded about social distancing.

New Zealand’s top cross-country skier Campbell Wright (No 186, below, left) took that to heart, maintaining a substantial lead throughout the race, ahead of Davis who finished in second place.

The event will be remembered as the one in which everything was just a little smaller.

The course was shorter because of a lack of snow in parts, while Covid-19 accounted for the reduction in the number of competitors.

Usually a contingent of overseas competitiors from the Worldloppet series would have taken part.

Among the spectators during the main 28km race were regulars Karen Marinkovic (left), of Wanaka, and Jude Frazer, of Lake Hawea. Ms Frazer (72) was planning to make her debut in the 7km event.