Husband and wife, Tim Carter and Tina Wilson, competed and dominated their categories in the premiere Nordic ski race, the World Masters Championship, held in McCall, Idaho in early March.

Wilson, 51, participated in the 50 to 54 age group. Of the 40 people she competed against, she came in 15th place.

Carter, 72, competed in the 70 to 74 age group. Internationally, he place fourth, 11th and sixth in his races. Nationally, he won a gold and two silver medals. His relay team won a bronze medal internationally.

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Racers could compete in up to three races. Carter also was chosen to be on a relay team. The team received a bronze medal.

“They pick the top people per age group and country,” Wilson said.

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The 30 K was his best race.

Carter, was a National Masters champion in his age group (50-54) in the mid-1980s in Lake Placid, N.Y. Then he won two bronze and one gold medals internationally.

This was the third World Master race Carter has raced, including a competition held in Germany.

“You can just sign up,” he said. “We don’t have to qualify.”

This was Tina Wilson’s first World Masters championship race. She said her training paid off this winter, earning her a personal best.

“I skied the best I ever skied,” she said.

About 1,200 people participated in the McCall event, including 15 Colorado skiers.

“There were as many Europeans as there were Americans,” Carter said.

The competition was “very international and it’s low altitude so you ski a lot faster,” he

said.

Carter said it wasn’t a flat race. The “up-and-down” trail was in a wooded area next to the lake. The venue was on a campground.

“They have twice as much snow as we have here,” he said.

Meetings were held at an ice palace, an enclosed ice rank, where vendors and people gathered.

“You would meet people from other countries,” he said. “I’d have to say the Russians were a little stiff.”

In comparison, he said the Italians “were just laughing and having a good time” in the beer tent.

He enjoyed the low-altitude race because he could ski hard and not “run out of wind.”

“It was a big factor. Everyone from Colorado was just elated,” he said. “It was such a good time. It didn’t matter how good you did. That was really the bottom line for everybody.”

The next annual World Masters Championship race is set for France.

“(Grand County) could never host a race like that because we’re too high,” he said.

“It’s too hard on the bodies.”

“The trails were mostly wooden,” Wilson said. “They were groomed to perfection.

They were not as hilly as here. It was more what we classify as rolling terrain. Every race has a big climb … I think people would love to ski there.”

” To reach Katie Looby call 887-3334 ext. 19601 or e-mail klooby@grandcountynews.com.