B.C. ski club prepares to host Olympic trials with less than 10 days' preparation

Up the mountain from Vernon in the B.C. Interior, last-minute preparations were underway Friday for the national cross-country skiing Olympic trials.

Just 10 days before the races were set to begin, a lack of snow forced the trials to be moved from Prince George to the backup location of Sovereign Lake Nordic Club.

Marcus Boyle, the volunteer and event co-ordinator at the club, said "everyone banded together" as they prepared the mountain for the trials starting on Sunday.

"The event this weekend [is] for the benefit of the athletes, to make it the best possible thing for them to achieve their Olympic dreams," said Boyle.

He said the Sovereign Lake Club is disappointed for the team at Prince George's Caledonia Nordic Ski Centre, knowing how much work had gone into the preparations there.

But he said Sovereign Lake was motivated to take over, with over 100 Olympic hopefuls set to ski in the trials to represent Team Canada.

Boyle said the season has already been incredibly busy for Sovereign Lake's team of volunteers — having hosted several high-profile cross-country and biathalon events over the last few weeks.

But when the call went out after the venue swap, Boyle says every volunteer position was filled within a day.

"I've never seen such great enthusiasm out of our volunteers," the co-ordinator said.

Change of venue sees hundreds of skiers racing in Vernon, B.C., for Olympic dream

Boyle and the team of volunteers have been working day and night to get trails ready for the national competition.

While Prince George was lacking enough snow to host the trials, Silverstar Mountain — where the Sovereign Lake trails are located — has been getting heaps.

"With this much snow, it's great, but it also makes grooming a bit of