October 28, 2008 (Canmore, AB) – Sara Renner is entering her 13th year on the Canadian Senior Team and has established herself as one of the elite talents on the international scene. She first reached her ultimate goal of stepping onto an international podium in 2005 when she sprinted to a bronze-medal finish at the Nordic World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany becoming the first Canadian to win a World Championship medal in cross-country skiing.

This triumph laid the groundwork for a brilliant 2005-06 season in which she won four World Cup medals and captured Olympic silver with teammate Beckie Scott in the team sprint in Torino, Italy. Following the 2006 Games, Renner took a break from racing to start a family with her husband, Thomas Grandi, a Canadian Alpine Team member. The couple welcomed their first child, Aria, in February of 2007 and Renner is now pursuing excellence in both realms – motherhood and on snow.

We understand you’ll miss the first six World Cup XC ski events this season. Had your husband Thomas not returned to Alpine racing, would the December 6 World Cup in La Clusaz, France still have been your first race?
Sara Renner: Yes, I’d planned to start my season in La Clusaz and that decision was made prior to Thomas’ comeback announcement. Missing races is pretty normal for World Cup skiers. You have to be Hercules to race the full schedule. I am happy to hunker down here in Canmore for November and wait for it to snow close by. I’m doing the Tour de Ski this year so it will be important to be fresh for that event. Ivan (Babikov) is also doing the same program.

The Tour de Ski is also demanding and new for you this season – tell us more.
SR: I am really excited about the Tour de Ski. It’s the perfect series for me with tons of 10km classics. I am also really happy with the format. One thing that takes the wind out of my sails is sitting around hotel rooms in Europe and that won’t happen at the Tour de Ski.

Motherhood has altered your training schedule, are you able to gauge your fitness based on pre-baby training logs or does any of that matter now?
SR: I feel like I am back to my pre-Torino fitness. My days are full but full of the best things. Afternoon naps still happen. I am really good at saying “no” to things that impact my time with my family and the quality of my training. Motherhood has made me a better athlete and having a family makes me feel like the luckiest critter alive. So I guess racing fast will be a bonus.

Has your daughter Aria been on skis?
SR: I am proud to say that Aria’s first skis are Fisher cross-country skis! They even have a stone grind on them and the boots have fur.

When Thomas retired he took over as the Head of Alpine Alberta. Any thoughts on your post-skiing career?
SR: Hmm… how does baby production sound? I definitely want to have more kids. I envision my future will involve helping out at my family’s backcountry lodge, Mount Assiniboine and continuing with my environmental work. Right after the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Thomas and I promised each other we would take six months for an epic surfing road trip.

All the best with the upcoming season.
SR: Thanks.