November 19, 2013 (Davos, Switzerland) – The Canadian XC Ski Team is currently in Davos, Switzerland preparing for the start of their 2014 Olympic season, which kicks off with round one of the FIS World Cup in Kuusamo, Finland from Nov. 29-Dec. 1.

Team Canada (l-r) Valjas, Wadsworth, Kershaw and Harvey in Falun celebrating the end of a stellar 2012 season © Alberta WCup

SkiTrax caught up with Canadian Team Head Coach Justin Wadsworth, who told us the squad will stay in Davos until the Wednesday (Nov. 27) before Kuusamo and head to Finland for the World Cup season opener, and their first races of the season, with roster that includes Dasha Gaiazova, Ivan Babikov, Devon Kershaw, Alex Harvey, Jesse Cockney, and Lenny Valjas. Young Cockney, the men’s NorAm winner this past season, is eager to stretch his legs on the World Cup circuit.

After the first World Cup, Gaiazova will head to a sprint race in Ostersund, Sweden where Chandra Crawford is competing at Sweden Cup events. Meanwhile, the men’s team will head to Lillehammer, Norway for WCup #2 (Dec. 7-8), and then everyone will reconvene in Livigno, Italy and move on to Davos for round #3 of the World Cup series.

According to Wadsworth, Crawford’s participation at the Davos and Asiago (#4) World Cups is dependent on her performance in Sweden – if she places in the top-12, she will attend the World Cups. Women’s team member Perianne Jones is “…on a day to day status, but is doing well. She may go over for Asiago,” added Wadsworth.

Meanwhile top NorAm female winner, Amanda Ammar, opted out of her World Cup berth and will not join the squad in Europe. The domestic scene in Canada gets underway Dec. 7-8 with Haywood NorAm #1 at Sovereign Lake in Vernon, BC.