August 10, 2013 (Canmore, AB) – If you plan for  a more adventurous way to strap on your cross-country skis this winter, the Canmore Ski Fest 2014 should appeal to the sport’s more hard-core participants.

To be hosted in Canmore, AB, on April 5-6, 2014, the competition, in its fourth year, offers races for  6-, 12- or 24-hours. Solo skiers and teams of 2 or 4 will ski on a 3-kilometre loop through the Canmore Nordic Centre to see how far they can ski during 6-,12- or 24-hours periods. There’s even a world record up for grabs if 24-hour solo female competitors can ski more than 333km within 24 hours, while solo male racers need to surpass 433km.

Organizers, Kamila and  Richard Boruta, want to bring endurance ski racers from all over North America to the Rocky Mountains. “People who want to challenge and test themselves should try it,“ say the Borutas. Similar races in Europe attract several hundred participants. The Canmore Ski Fest is also designed as a fun family race. In the past, whole families have supported and helped their solo participants in the race, while their children took part at the kid’s race.

This celebration of skiing on the end of ski season, will include a kid’s race on Saturday, April 5, with many prizes and other activities for children. Bouncy castle (weather permitting) and balloon man Crazy Larry have been always big hit with all young skiers in the past.

Kamila Borutova, a former Czech national ski team member, set the Guiness book record at the same venue by skiing 333km in 24 hours back in 2000. She hopes that more people will challenge her record. So far the best results were achieved in 2012. The winner over the past three years in the men’s solo category, Leighton Poidevin, managed to finish 128 laps of the 3km course, to cover a distance of 384 km, with an average speed of 16.48 km/h. In the women’s solo category, Cyd Fraser skied 104 laps for a distance of 312km, and an average speed of 13.02 km/h.

Trails will be professionally prepared for both classic and skate-style, and racers can use whichever technique they like. There will be a chance to rent wax rooms at the Canmore Nordic Centre for the night.

Take on the challenge and come to celebrate and ski at Canmore Ski Fest 2014!

For more information visit canmoreskifest.com or email canmoreskifest@gmail.com