January 14, 2009 (Whistler, BC) – Led by a talented collection of international medal winners at all levels, 33 of Canada’s top cross-country skiers are set to cut their tracks into British Columbia where they will compete in the 2009 Cross-Country Skiing World Cup in Whistler, B.C., January 16-18.

With just over one year remaining until the world’s best cross-country skiers stride into Whistler Olympic Park for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the Canadians will host nearly 230 athletes, representing 17 countries, for three World Cup races this week. The Canadian squad, who competed at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic venue last March for its national championships, will take part in the following World Cup disciplines for the first time: pursuit, individual classic-sprint, and team skate-sprint race.

“This is a critical opportunity for our team to begin developing home field advantage, and we look forward to welcoming the world back to Canada for another week of great racing,” said Al Maddox, executive director, Cross Country Canada. “We are bringing an incredibly talented group of athletes with us to British Columbia that have had a great deal of success at all levels of their career. It is our hope, this week is the beginning of a new journey towards the international podium in Whistler, and we look forward to adding additional chapters to our storied past.”

Headlining the Canadian contingent, which consists of 18 men and 15 women, is a group of athletes that have won medals at the Olympics, World Championships, World Cup and World Junior Championships.

Feeding off a successful stint at the Tour de Ski over the holidays where they combined to win two medals while posting numerous personal best performances along the way, Ivan Babikov, of Canmore, Alta., and Devon Kershaw, of Sudbury, Ont., will lead the Canadian men’s team, presented by AltaGas, into the first World Cup of the new year.

Babikov, 28, became the first Canadian male since the legendary Pierre Harvey won four World Cup medals, including three gold before retiring in 1989, to win a gold medal against a World Cup field in the pursuit race. Babikov accomplished the feat in the seventh and final stage of the Tour de Ski. The 26-year-old Kershaw, who has emerged into the top dog on the men’s team over the last four years, stepped onto the World Cup podium for the third time of his career last month when he won the bronze in the 15-kilometre classic discipline.

The two World Cup veterans will be joined by the rising young star in Canada’s cross-country skiing circles, Alex Harvey, of St-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que. Competing in his rookie season on the World Cup Team, Harvey is one of the strongest Canadian junior skiers the country has ever produced, winning a total of three World Junior Championship medals.

Sara Renner, 32, who has an Olympic silver medal, a World Championship bronze medal and four World Cup medals, will hit the start line for all three women’s races. Renner will form a one-two Canadian punch in women’s action with fellow Canmore, Alta. resident Chandra Crawford. Chandra Crawford, who is recovering from an ankle injury, will not make her season debut in Whistler but is in Canmore training. Specializing in skate-sprinting, the 25-year-old Crawford won two sprint titles last year – on her home track at the Canmore Nordic Centre and also in Finland.

“This is a unique group of athletes that continues to push harder each day in an effort to put the Canadian maple leaf back onto the international podium on a regular basis,” said Maddox. “Our team has been dreaming of this event for three years, and we are looking forward to showcasing our sport to all Canadians.”

In addition to gaining home-field advantage, hosting a World Cup in Canada is also a critical component to providing young athletes the opportunity to gain much-needed World Cup experience.

Joining the Canadian men’s team, which is supported by AltaGas, will be George Grey, of Rossland, B.C., who also cracked the top-10 for the first time of his nine-year career earlier this year. Others include: Brent McMurtry, of Calgary; Cameron Egan, of Vernon, B.C.; Charles Brassard, of Jonquiere, Que.; Chris Butler, of Thunder Bay, Ont.; Chris Werrel, of Burns Lake, B.C.; Dan Roycroft, of Port Sydney, Ont.; Dave Nighbor, of North Bay, Ont.; Frederic Touchette, of St-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que.; Graham Nishikawa, of Whitehorse, Yukon; Len Valjas, of Toronto; Phil Widmer, of Banff, Alta.; Sean Crooks, of Thunder Bay, Ont.; Stefan Kuhn, of Canmore, Alta.; Terrell Stephan, of Calgary.

The nation’s best women that will also suit up with Haywood Securities race toques in Whistler include: three-time Olympian, Milaine Theriault, of St. Quentin, N.B.; Alysson Marshall, of Salmon Arm, B.C.; Amanda Ammar, of Onoway, Alta.; Andrea Dupont, of Timmins, Ont.; Brittany Webster, of Caledon, Ont.; Brooke Gosling, of Calgary; Dasha Gaiazova, of Montreal; Kate Brennan, of Pakenham, Ont.; Madeleine Williams, of Edmonton; Perianne Jones, of Almonte, Ont.; Rhonda Jewett, of Canmore, Alta.; Sarah Daitch, of Fort Smith, N.W.T; and Shayla Swanson, of Calgary.

The World Cup event is one of 16 sport events in 2009 for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, which will be testing its pre-Games operational and venue readiness. These series of races will provide VANOC the opportunity to test Games-time operations and train potential 2010 volunteers. Spectators will have the chance to experience Whistler Olympic Park, and learn more about some of Europe’s most popular winter sports that are guaranteed to thrill Canadians in 2010.

With two-time Olympic medallist, Beckie Scott, joining the team of colour commentators, CBC-TV will be there for every stride taken on the trails in the Callaghan Valley. CBC is planning the following coverage of race action:

Main Net Broadcast Schedule: (All Times EST)
January 17
•12-1 p.m. – Men’s and Women’s Sprint Finals
January 31
•1-2 p.m. – Team Sprint Finals

CBCSPORTS.CA (LIVE) Broadcast Schedule
January 16
•2-3:45 p.m. – Men’s and Women’s Sprint Finals
January 17
•12-1:45 p.m. – Men’s Pursuit
•3:30-4:15 p.m. – Women’s Pursuit
January 18
•3-4 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Team Sprint Finals

Bold Broadcast Schedule
January 16
•3:45-5:30 EST – Men’s and Women’s Sprint Finals
January 17
•6-8 p.m. EST – Men’s Pursuit
•12 midnight – 1 a.m. – Women’s Pursuit
January 18
•3-4 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Team Sprint Finals