Yukon skier Natalie Hynes headed to world championships in Finland

Another young Yukoner is making waves in competitive cross-country skiing.

20-year-old Natalie Hynesfrom Whitehorse has been named to Canada's under-23 World Championship teamcompeting in Lahti, Finland next month.

"I definitely wasn't expecting it. I mean, you always kind of hope," Hynes said.

She's one of four athletes named to the women's U-23 team. The team members earned their spots at a competition this past weekend in Canmore, Alta.

Hynes, who's also a student of health sciences in Anchorage, Alaska, missed one racelast weekend, because of exams. But she made up for it with strong results in two other racesincluding her favourite, the 15-kilometre classic race.

She says even though she's studying in Alaska, she enjoys coming back to Canada for competitions.

"You don't always know what to expect and what the competition is like, but it's kind of more exciting that way, almost. And they also don't know if you're coming, half the time," she said.

Hynesknows she's following in some big footsteps,or ski tracks Canadian Olympic skiers Dahria Beatty and Emily Nishikawaalso call Whitehorse home.

"They're always looking out for meand each other, and it's great," Hynessaid.

The competition in Finland runs from Jan. 19to 27.