Tag Archive | "Tara Whitten"

Interview with Track Star Tara Whitten – Former XC Great and Gatineau Loppet Honorary President

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February 18, 2013 (Gatineau, Quebec) – Last year was a rough one to have heroes in cycling. It was a reminder that all too often the attributes that make successful athletes need not be those that make holistically praiseworthy people.

So it was refreshing to sit down with Tara Whitten at this year’s 35th Gatineau Loppet for a wide ranging interview. Not just an Olympic bronze medallist, multiple world champion and PhD candidate in neuroscience, Whitten is also a genuinely nice person, discussed topics from; ski racing, to track development, to her own athletic plans for the future.

She went as far as to apologize for being “wishy-washy” about her future in the sport, but then again, after a decade of international competition, first as a skier, and then as a cyclist, Whitten has earned herself a break.

Whitten was this year’s Honorary Gatineau Loppet President, and while the Edmontonian had won this 50km skate event here in 2004, she hadn’t done a proper ski race since Nationals in Quebec in 2007, by which point her heart was no longer in the sport. It was at that point that she began to shift her attention to track cycling – a sport in which she had first dabbled back in 2005.

Whitten did admit to having done the Edmonton Birkie last week, and said she felt much less beat up than after this weekend – joking that maybe she was already making a training adaptation. For an athlete that Cycling Canada’s HP Director, Jaques Landry, once called “a freak of nature” such an adaptation isn’t entirely unlikely.

So right upfront what are you plans right now for your own sporting future?
Tara Whitten: To be honest I’m a little uncertain. On one hand I’m excited about the prospect of the 4 person four-kilometer women’s team pursuit. It’s an interesting change, and would be neat to be a part of as our whole team just keeps on getting stronger. It’s tempting to think about being part of. I’m also excited about maybe focusing more on time trialing.

So the Omnium has no part in your plans?
TW: For the Omnium we’d have to wait and see, I think its future as an Olympic event is a bit more uncertain. I also think its future might be more with the sprinter – not pure sprinters, but riders with real speed. I actually think Gillian [Carleton] has a chance to combine that pure speed I don’t have with the endurance needed for the event. But we’ll have to see how it all develops in the next few years.

Team pursuit with four women. Good or bad for Canada?
TW: There are two ways to look at that, it can be good or bad. There are some countries with more depth and a deeper pool than us for sure. But at the same time after what we accomplished in London, I think that will help attract younger athlete into being interested in the track. I think we will find some strong new team pursuiters in the next four years to compliment the ones we already have.

How is the situation in Canada now compared to when you first started five years ago?
TW: There is so much more depth now. I really believe that team events have a huge impact on development. They give so many more opportunities for women to get involved, and from there they can branch out into the individual events as well. In 2007 when I started I was the only women in Canada pursuiting under 3:45. Now every girl in the pool can do that – that is four women if you don’t count me.

Have you spent much time in the Ottawa area before?
TW: A couple times for the Keski, and for my first ski nationals in this region in 1995. As well I’ve come out twice in the summer for the Women’s GP – so I’ve spent a bit of time here.

There is a group in Ottawa working to build a velodrome in the National capital region- how important it to have development opportunities like this in Canada?
TW: The importance of facilities like that is hard to overestimate. You need kids to have the chance to do a sport to get excited about it – especially a sport like track that you don’t even see on TV except for the Olympics. There is no chance for a development system without these facilities. The more opportunities there are for kids to try different sports the better. And some of those sports will cross over – like  cycling and skiing did for me. We can’t just be building hockey arenas.

How long were you a ski racer before you became a cyclist?
TW: I spent 13 years as a ski racer before cycling. Cross country skiing has a GREAT development system. When you go to a ski race you see the whole family, with two year age categories for boys and girls aged 7 and up. The kids are just out there having fun and racing Jackrabbit. It’s very different from most bike races you go to which is made up mainly of masters and men. They are guys that love the sport, but it’s not development.

Cross-country skiing also seems to be far more co-ed.
TW: Fore sure, hugely so. I’m not sure if cycling has an intimidation factor that keeps girls out or what, but the numbers of girls competing is so much smaller. There was definitely a tendency for the girls to drop out of the skiing more than the guys as they got a little older, but they are there in the younger ages.

How important was Richard Wooles’ decision to move the Canadian track program to L.A.?
TW: I don’t think there is any way we could have done what we did without a world class facility as a training base. Los Angeles isn’t necessarily ideal- the road riding around there isn’t great for example. But having access to that facility and training as a team were so  important to Team Canada’s success.

It would have been nicer to have been able to be in Canada. A lot of people felt really disconnected from home and the people in their lives. It was definitely a bit of a sacrifice to be based there. It wasn’t even like significant others could get visas and relocate there.

Do you think the new velodrome in Milton will be a big change?
TW: For sure! Just being able to be in Canada, I can’t explain how exciting that is. I imagine the endurance riders will have to do some road  camps in the winter. And it’s not just great for the elites, but for young athletes to be able to see high level track cycling in their own  backyard will be a huge step forwards for the next generation.

Just for the record, what exactly is your PhD in?
TW: Neuroscience, my thesis in high frequency rhythms in the hippocampus in sleep-like states. It is an area of the brain that is involved with memory, which we’ve known about since the 1950’s because of the case of Henry Molaison.

At this point Whitten was whisked off to hand out medals to the podiums in the skate races. In a funny twist the first winner Whitten presented a medal to was former national cycling team teammate Veronique Fortin, who had won the 27km freestyle event.

Gatineau Loppet – Less Than 20 Days To Go!

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January 28, 2013 (Gatineau, QC) – Yes, in less than a month, from February 15th to 17th, 2013, we will be giving the start for the 35th edition of the Gatineau Loppet. We hope that your preparation for the biggest cross-country skiing event in Canada is going well. We invite you to participate at the Gatineau Loppet in your way – as a skier, volunteer, spectator or as a visitor.

Happy reading and we look forward to seeing you all on the trails.

– Yan Michaud, president of the Gatineau Loppet

Tara Whitten Named Honorary President
On January 15th 2013, at our press conference, we had the great pleasure to announce the Honorary President of the 35th Gatineau Loppet: Olympic medalist in London in 2012, Tara Whitten. We invite you to read the press release and biographical document to learn more about this athlete who’s been significant in both skiing and cycling. Tara will ski the 55 km classic on Saturday and the 10 km freestyle on Sunday. Come and ski with her!

New Challenges
On February 16th, two new linear courses of 55 and 38 km classic style will be inaugurate at the start of Lac Philippe (P.19). Participants of both races will have the chance to ski through the beautiful scenery of three municipalities; La Pêche, Chelsea and Gatineau.

It is very important to note that all skiers who take part in the 55 and 38 km classic will be transported by bus to Lac Philippe. Then, they must:
– Go at the Mont-Bleu Secondary School on Saturday morning;
– Be prepared to take the bus 1 h 10 before the start of their race at Lac Philippe;
– Go in front of the school to take the bus.

NO PARKING WILL BE ALLOWED P19.

Skiers register for the 55 and 38 km classic will receive an email with all the details a week before the event.

Carnaval Soleil Polaire
We are extremely pleased to present the second year of the Carnaval Soleil Polaire, neighborhood party held Sunday, February 17th, 2013. At noon, we invite you behind the Relais plein air to participate in a variety of activities for all. Inflatables, face painting, giant skis, music, culinary enjoyment await you. This is a family event not to be missed.

Cross-country Ski Show
This year, at the cross-country ski show, you will find the major players in the industry and also several retailers in the region: Atomic, Buff, Bushtukah, Fischer, Fresh Air Experience, Greg Christies, One Way, Peccos, Salomon, Skifast Ergometer, Suunto, Swix … without forgetting the Gatineau Loppet’s shop!

Volunteers
The Gatineau Loppet is looking for volunteers in different positions:

– Feeding stations
– Medals and awards
– Sales
– Official
– Start / Finish

Complete the form to become a volunteer HERE.

Accommodations
For official hotels and rates, click HERE.

Location Sauvageau Promotion
To get in Gatineau, enjoy a 5% discount on car rental from our partner Location Sauvageau by using the following promotional code: 2013LOPPET35

Haywood NorAm (FIS) Canadian Eastern Championships
The 2013 Haywood NorAm (FIS) Canadian Eastern Championships will be held at Nakkertok Nordic Centre, Cantley, Québec, from Feb 1-3, 2013. We encourage you to support the cross-country skiing community and to contribute to the success of this event by volunteering. Please click HERE for details.

On behalf of the EOC-2013, thank you for supporting this prestigious cross country ski event!

Canadian Ski Marathon
Learn about the Canadian Ski Marathon, a Nordic ski tour of 160 km over two days that will take place on February 9 and 10, 2013 between Gatineau and Lachute, Quebec HERE.

Special Offer Gatineau Loppet – Ski Trax
Gatineau Loppet and SkiTrax Magazine, the largest cross-country ski magazine in North America, have teamed up to bring you great savings. SkiTrax keeps you up to date on all the latest Nordic news, ski gear, adventure and recreational skiing, including race reports from across Canada, the USA, and around the world – check out skitrax.com.

Gatineau Loppet participants save 30% off regular subscription prices – try a SkiTrax/Pedal Combo Deal and get Pedal Magazine as well – to order click HERE.

Remember to “like” the Facebook page of the Gatineau Loppet HERE!

Tara Whitten Named Honorary President of Gatineau Loppet

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January 16, 2013 (Gatineau, QC) – In one month, from February 15th to 17th, 2013, the start of the Gatineau Loppet, the largest cross-country ski event in Canada, will be given. It’s in a festive spirit that the organizing committee unveiled today a few surprises for the 35th edition!

A Very Special Guest
The President of the Gatineau Loppet, Mr. Yan Michaud, said he was “extremely pleased to announce Tara Whitten as Honorary President of the event.” The 32-years-old athlete made her mark in cross-country skiing with her silver medal at the 2003 Under-23 World Championships, by winning the Gatineau Loppet’s 50 km freestyle in 2004 and also for competing as a member of Team Canada, in the 2005 Senior World Championships. In 2008, she exclusively devoted herself to cycling, where she was crowned Omnium World Champion on the track in 2010-2011 and also won the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics in team pursuit. The young woman, native of Edmonton, is “delighted to reconnect with cross-country skiing for the 35th anniversary of the event.” She will participate in the 55 km classic on Saturday and also in the 10 km freestyle on Sunday: “Come and ski with me on February 16th and 17th, 2013 at the Gatineau Loppet!”.

New linear Courses
The Organizing Committee wishes to remind all skiers that for the 35th anniversary of the Gatineau Loppet, two new linear courses of 55 and 38 km classic starting from Philippe Lake will be inaugurated. Participants of these two races will have the opportunity to ski for the first time through the beautiful scenery of three municipalities; La Pêche, Chelsea and Gatineau.

Hall of Fame
As a legacy for the 35th anniversary of the Gatineau Loppet, the “Trail of Legends” Hall of Fame will be inaugurated. The organizing committee wishes to honor individuals or organizations that have marked the event or contributed significantly to the development of cross-country skiing. The first member of the “Gatineau Loppet Trail of Legends” will be presented during the Ice Worldoppet Cocktail hold February 16th at Mont Bleu High School.
For more information, visit our website at gatineauloppet.com.

Former NST XC Ski Racer Whitten Wins Track Cycling Worlds

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March 28, 2011 (Apeldoorn, Netherlands) – Hot on the heels of winning the 2010/11 World Cup series title in the women’s track cycling Omnium event, former Canadian National Team XC skier Tara Whitten won the Track World Championship title in the same event in Apeldoorn, Netherlands on Sunday.

The former high-level skier turned cyclist from Edmonton also excelled on the snow, achieving a sprint silver medal at the 2003 Under-23 World Nordic Championships.

Whitten is on track to represent Canada at the London 2012 Summer Olympics with the strong potential of winning a medal.

Read the full story HERE.

Listen to a conference call interview with Whitten after her win HERE.