May 22, 2008 (Canmore, AB) – On May 5 the Alberta World Cup Ski Academy launched into the 2008/2009 season by announcing its 2009 team. The 15-person squad is made up of athletes living in the Calgary/Canmore area who train with the Academy and have met the team’s selection criteria.

The Academy is an initiative of the Alberta World Cup Society, organizers of Alberta’s World Cup Cross Country Ski Race, as well as the two largest clubs in the region – Foothills Nordic and Canmore Nordic Ski Club. The Academy is an independent training program that is privately funded who’s central goal is to take over from where provincial and federal funding have left off, and work with young talented skiers who are out of high school and who want to commit to ski racing at a higher level – skiers who are willing to undertake the intense training program set forth by the team’s coaches.

The Academy offers racers opportunities that may not be available to them at the club level. The costs of training , testing, coaching , waxing, traveling, and race support can cost athletes in excess of $20,000 per year, but qualified athletes in the program may reduce their fees to under $7,000 per year. While the program is already full for 2008/09 it’s continuing to expand in the future.

The team consists of several members of the Junior National Team, several up-and-coming U23 skiers, as well as some established senior skiers. This mix of younger and more experienced athletes allows for everyone to learn from each other and push each other in training.

The 2008 Alberta World Cup Ski Academy Team
– Kate Brennan
– Chris Butler
– Jesse Cockney
– Brooke Gosling
– Sara Hewitt
– Rhonda Jewett
– Gord Jewett
– Marlis Kromm
– Alysson Marshall
– Curtis Merry
– Dougal Owen
– Kevin Sandau
– Terrell Stephen
– Shayla Swanson
– Heidi Widmer
– Mike Cavaliere – Team Director

For more info visit their website at www.albertaworldcup.com