January 09, 2013 (Thunder Bay, ON) – Here are some great photos from last weekend’s Haywood NorAm and U23/Junior trials, Jan. 5-6, at the Lappe Ski Centre in Thunder Bay as athletes made their bids for selection to the various upcoming World Championship teams. Results HERE. Read more about the races: Day 1 HERE, Day 2 HERE.

December 27, 2012 (Victoria, B.C.) – After years of preparation, Canadian Sport Centre Pacific is excited to be evolving to Canadian Sport Institute*. The institute designation, recently granted by Sport Canada and Own the Podium, is a reflection of the organization now being a world class Olympic and Paralympic training environment. Leading nations across the globe also boast ‘sport institutes’ for high performance athletes. As a result, the name change indicates Canada’s strength and parity as a sporting nation on a global level.

To build a sport institute, you need excellent personnel, programs and facilities. Through hard work and careful planning, the Canadian Sport Institute has created a facility-based system to service Olympic, Paralympic and up-and-coming athletes across British Columbia. Having everything under one roof is the key to success. From performance planning, biomechanical analysis, physiology and sport nutrition to strength and conditioning, athletic therapy, mental performance consultation and massage therapy, BC-based athletes and coaches have all the help they need to win medals for Canada.

“Through the support of our national and provincial partners, we work to power podium performances for Canada,” explains Wendy Pattenden, CEO of the Canadian Sport Institute. “Now that we are recognized as a sport institute, this designation reiterates our desire to compete and win against the best of the best. Our team is determined to do everything possible to ensure BC and Canadian athletes and coaches succeed on the world stage.”

Canadian Sport Institute’s three main locations are found in Victoria at PISE, in Vancouver at the Creekside Community Recreation Centre, and in Whistler at the Whistler Athletes’ Centre. Here, athletes and coaches are serviced by 60 of the best scientists and practitioners in their fields, some of them Olympic medallists themselves.

A member of the national Institute network (also located in Calgary, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic), Canadian Sport Institute’s reach is province-wide. The Canadian Sport Institute provides provincial oversight on high performance programs and services for athletes and coaches in partnership with viaSport British Columbia and the PacificSport regional sport centres in Northern BC, the Interior, the Fraser Valley, the Okanagan, and on Vancouver Island.

For complete details about the Canadian Sport Institute and all of our programs and services, please visit www.csipacific.ca.

December 11, 2012 (Canmore, AB) – With the Alberta World Cup coming to Canmore this week, the Alberta World Cup Academy in conjunction with Ascent Physical Therapy is hosting the Canmore XC Ski Camps. This is an excellent opportunity for intermediate to advanced level cross country skiers to enhance their technique with the help of the World Cup Academy Coaches.

This Camp is for all levels and ages of skiers.  This is not a complete beginners camp, but caters to intermediate level non-racing skiers up to racing level.  Please call if you are not sure if your skills will fit the camp!

The Canmore XC Ski Camp is the perfect way to take advantage of world class instruction from some of Canada’s finest coaches from the Alberta World Cup Academy. The structure of the camp allows skiers to operate at their own pace and in a group environment that is catered to their ability level.

The on snow sessions concentrate on the technical aspects of both skate and classic, with real world modeling and feedback an essential part of the program. Ski waxing instruction along with advice on ski selection will ensure you come away from this camp well informed.

If you want to optimize your technique and learn from the best the Canmore XC Ski Camp is the place to be.

For beginner skiers, in skate or classic, the Canmore XC Ski Camp supports and encourages skiers to contact the excellent team at Trailsports. They can provide private and group lessons for those of varying ability and will be operating throughout winter and during camp time. This may be the perfect opportunity for those bringing a spouse, child or friend along for the week to enroll in one of their classes.

– 4 Days of Expert XC Skiing Instruction and Training – $599+gst – Register HERE

– NEW! 2-Day Skate only option Dec 22nd and 23rd – $375+gst – Register HERE

Like Canmore XC Ski Camp on Facebook!

For more information go to www.canmorexcskicamp.com

December 10, 2012 (Sovereign Lake, B.C.) – The Nishikawas took the podium in both the men’s and the women’s Haywood NorAm races on Sunday. It was a cold start to the Haywood NorAm race at Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre, with 80 men racing in the men’s 15km free and 42 in the women’s race.

The women’s competition had a close finish leaving officials to tally the times of the as Emily Nishikawa finished behind Brittany Webster in the race, but as it was interval starts, both finished with the time of 31 minutes.

When Emily came in, Webster was anxiously awaiting the results to see if her first place standing would hold. The results showed Nishikawa as the first place finisher with a time of 31:04 and Webster 31:11. Third place was a Junior racer, Frédérique Vézina with team NST.

Webster explains that what makes this course tough is the transition zones. The skiers who are good at transitioning from the flat or down to the steep rises can make up time. She credits the race organizers and groomers for making the course as smooth as possible.

Webster’s points seeded her near 5 minutes ahead of the leaders. She found it a hard race to gauge where she was in relation to the fast girls in her category and to know that she was so close to Nishikawa.

Nishikawa had her own race plan for the day. “I wanted to ski relaxed in the first lap and then pick it up in the second lap, and I felt I was able to do that. It’s a tough course and you’re always working, so I wanted to make sure I had enough energy to push in the last two kilometres. I’m really happy with how it turned out.”

The men’s field demonstrated strength on hills, with three loops of the hilly 5km course that left their lungs on the trails in the light freezing rain that cooled the air temperature. Graham Nishikawa of Whitehorse, training with AWCA proved to be the toughest and fastest of the day, finishing the 15km in a time of 39:22.

Michael Somppi of AWCA finished in second place with a time of 39:40 followed by David Greer of the Yukon Elite Squad in 40:02.

Nishikawa felt he started his race well and felt he was able to maintain it. “The last two km were super hard.” he said. “It was hard to see on the downhill as my glasses were fogging and icing.”

This weekend Nishikawa feels shows that his fitness is good. Looking ahead to the World Cup, Nishikawa is pretty excited about it, and would like to have two good races next weekend.

Full results HERE.