MacLean sisters blazing a trail to elite Nordic Ski scene

In an eerily similar fashion, sisters Isabelle and Alannah MacLean are following down exactly the same athletic path. And that's not a bad thing at all.

More accurately, the siblings are blazing their way, one ski followed swiftly by the other, on to the Canadian Nordic Ski elite scene. In mid-May, Isabelle, a 17-year-old Grade 11 student at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary was named as one of five members of the Team Ontario Junior Girls squad.

Just six days later, Cross-Country Canada unveiled the news that Alannah, a 19-year-old Lo-Ellen graduate, who has just completed her first year of post-secondary studies at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, was the only Ontario female selected for the National Junior Team, joining five other young ladies from across the country.

Ironically, it would be almost two years to the day, exactly, when Alannah first got the news that she had cracked the provincial team roster. Though Alannah might have the chronological head start, the talented siblings seem destined to run parallel trails.

Born into an athletic family, the continued development of Isabelle and Alannah is hardly surprising. 

"I would say that my mom and dad really encouraged us to do Nordic skiing," Isabelle said, while preparing for the Lo-Ellen athletic banquet earlier this month. "Ever since we were young, it was a big part of our lives." 

Truth be told, simply keeping active and maintaining an involvement in multiple sports were the credos by which the MacLean clan lived.

In addition to her prowess in cross-country ski circuits, Alannah was a multiple-time OFSAA finalist in track and field. Graduating from Lo-Ellen last June, she had already decided to narrow her focus, realizing the dream her heart must follow lay in northwestern Ontario, site of both Lakehead University and the National Development Centre for cross-country skiing.

"It was a great experience to have a team that is motivated to attain the same ultimate goal, to one day qualify for the National Ski Team," Alannah said. "It made for a great environment to train throughout the summer."

The past year has been a great one, for both young ladies, with each enjoying exponential growth. The move to the national spotlight for Alannah provided clear motivation for her younger sister, spurred along with some words of wisdom courtesy of long-time Walden Cross Country Ski Club coach Patti Kitlar.

"I was doing more training volume this year, but it was more the mentality through the training that changed," Isabelle explained. "Writing down my goals, having a specific purpose all the way through the season.

"I kind of had ideas of my goals, but my coach really guided me," she added. "Well, actually, she forced me to write them down." 

The fact is both of the MacLean sisters have benefited greatly from the help of numerous individuals within the Sudbury sporting community, though Kitlar remains certainly at or near the top for both.

In an environment where ideal Nordic ski training can often become a challenge, a truly diligent coach is a godsend. 

"Patti made us go out this winter when there was like an inch of snow, and I think I skied for three hours," Isabelle said. "It's tougher skiing, because there's so much resistance." 

Yet the hard work, for both, is paying off, big time. Overcoming an ankle injury early in the year, Alannah fought back, capturing NorAm medals for the first time, medaling at both the Ontario and Canadian University championships, and finally, recognized as the CCUNC Rookie of the Year.
It was a year of memorable experiences. 

"The World Junior Trials took place at the Olympic venue in Whistler," Alannah said. "It was an amazing experience to know that I was skiing on the same trails as the best skiers in the world. My racing improved dramatically."

With success comes an increased workload and a schedule that sees the MacLean girls filling up many a weekend year-round. Isabelle has just returned from an Ontario Ski team testing camp in Ottawa.

Following a brief stint at home in early May, Alannah trekked back to Thunder Bay, enjoying a second go around with the National Development Centre crew this summer. And she has accomplished all that while maintaining an 85 per cent average in her studies at Lakehead.

If Isabelle is to mirror the accomplishments of any young athlete, the Nordic ski path currently being carved by her older sister is not a bad place to start.

Posted by Laurel Myers