March 22, 2007 (Stockholm, Sweden) – Building towards a successful end of the post-Olympic season, Canada’s Chandra Crawford found her stride on Wednesday, in Stockholm, Sweden. The 23-year-old skier finished 21st, after qualifying for the quarter-finals in the women’s classic style sprint race.

This is the first time of the season that Crawford, the 2006 Olympic gold medallist, has qualified for the quarter-final in the classic sprint. The Canmore, Alta. native, who won her gold medal in the skate style, has struggled to measure up against the world’s best in the different classic style.

“It went well,” said a jubilant Crawford.” I have been working like crazy all season to break into the top-30 in the classic sprint, so to put it together in the last race of the season is great. I have been working twice as much on the classic style than I have on my skating, because this is the style to be used at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. It’s great though, because I come into every race feeling like the underdog since no one expects me to excel in the classic, and I’ll use that to my advantage.”

Crawford will now hop a plane home to Canada where she will suit up this weekend against the best cross-country skiers in the nation at the 2007 Canadian Championships in Mont-Ste-Anne, Que.

“The Canadian Championships are extremely important, and I am thrilled to be going home to compete against my teammates,” said Crawford. “It’s great to come home and interact with the Canadian ski community after a long season on the road.”

Canadian XC Championships

While Crawford is getting set to return to Canada, her competitors have already been busy winning national titles. Dasha Gaiazova was the shining star once again as she picked up her second straight victory Wednesday, in the women’s 10-kilometre interval start classic event in Mont Ste Anne, Que.

It was 23-year-old Gaiazova’s 10th gold and 15th medal in six trips to the national dance, since she skied onto the national scene. The reigning national champion from Montreal completed the race in 31 minutes 24 seconds, a little more than 21 seconds in front of Tasha Betcherman, of Thunder Bay, Ont.

Milaine Therieault, of St. Quentin, N.B., took the final spot on the podium (+50.0), shutting out junior star Brittany Webster, of Caledon, Ont., by just one second. The fourth-place finish was enough though to give Webster her second gold medal in the junior women’s division.

Chris Jeffries, of Chelsea, Que., captured his second medal of the Championship in the Open Men’s class, out duelling Graham Nishikawa, of Whitehorse, Yukon, by four seconds and Ivan Babikov by 18 seconds to win gold.

Other double gold medallists at Mont-Ste-Anne included junior phenom Alex Harvey of the host club, who was the victor in the junior men’s category. Bryn Knight, the junior girl from Whitehorse and recent Canada Winter Games double medallist, and Gavin Hamilton, of Carleton University (CCUNC Men), also picked up their second gold medals of the competition.

Viessmann World Cup – Sweden

Women

1. Petra Madjic, SLO
2. Virpi Kuitunen, FIN
3. Anna Dalhberg, SWE
4. Astrid Jacobsen, NOR
5. Pirjo Manninen, FIN
21. Chandra Crawford, Canmore, Alta.

For complete Tour de Ski results visit <http://www.fis-ski.com/>www.fis-ski.com

2007 Canadian Championships

Open Men
1. Chris Jeffries, Chelsea, Que., 41:06.4
2. Graham Nishikawa, Whitehorse, Yukon, +4.8
3. Ivan Babikov, Foothills Nordic, +18.3
4. Alex Harvey, St.-Ferreol les Neiges, Que., +24.4
5. Dave Nighbor, North Bay, Ont., +26.1

Open Women
1. Dasha Gaiazova, Montreal, 31:24.0
2. Tasha Betcherman, Thunder Bay, Ont., +21.1
3. Milaine Theriault, St. Quentin, N.B., +50.4
4. Brittany Webster, Caledon, Ont., +51.8
5. Madeleine Williams, Edmonton, +54.0

Final results will be posted at www.zone4.ca when available.