Rossland skier achieves Swiss podium in World Cup competition
By Rossland Telegraph
Rossland skier Lesley Beatson made an impressive come-back representing Canada at the Masters World Cup of cross-country skiing in Klosters, Switzerland, March 9-15, 2025. Despite warm and extremely challenging conditions, Beatson finished in third place in the 20-km skate-ski event and just missed the podium by a hair in the 10-km skate, finishing 1/100 of a second behind the third-place racer. Beatson also represented Canada in the anchor leg of the 4 x 5 km relay.
Originally from Ontario, Beatson, a 66-year-old mother of two, said she moved to Rossland specifically for the skiing and discovered Black Jack Ski Club, where she both competes and coaches to this day.
“You’re in the woods and the snow and with skate-skiing, you can get going really fast with really tight corners,” she said. “It’s so fun. I love it.”
Beatson has a Ph.D. in Leadership and she said it’s an easy transition from coaching athletes to coaching leaders, as many of the same skill sets are applied. She runs her own consulting company and has worked with teams, leaders and organizations from many local communities, helping with engagement, innovation, team building and much more.
A veteran world cup racer, Beatson started cross country skiing in the early ‘80s to train for cycle racing on the road and track. In order to learn good technique, she took coaching courses and was the first paid coach at Black Jack Ski Club. She has competed in three other Masters World Cup events, all in Canada.
“I am so grateful for the support from friends and fellow skiers from home,” said Lesley upon her return. “It was particularly special to represent Canada with the recent threats to our sovereignty. Canadians are well loved in Europe and I had the benefit of hearing ‘go Canada’ shouted from the crowds lining the race course.
“Swiss people are taking action on our behalf, boycotting US products and closing Facebook and X accounts,” she said. “The crowds got really excited for the Canadians and Ukrainians.”
She said she hopes to be an example for other women in the sport.
“One Canadian woman won bronze in the 75 – 79 age category after going to the Worlds 18 times – talk about perseverance,” Beatson said, adding she would be remiss not to give a shout out to the youth competitors of Black Jack Ski Club.
“Canadians I talked to in Switzerland – but don’t live anywhere near here (Rossland) – knew of Black Jack, and they all commented on how exceptionally well Black Jack youth are doing in the standings.
Almost 800 athletes from more than 25 nations competed in various races on the Klosters cross-country ski trails. The World Masters Association was formed in June 1982, at the instigation of Canadian Bill Gairdner, as the international platform for top competitive skiers as well as for those who simply enjoy racing, regardless of their ranking.
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