December 30, 2005 – Canada heads into the 2006 Olympics in Torino with a full team and high hopes.

Beckie Scott and Sara Renner headline a talented team of nominated Canadian athletes. Beckie, a defending Olympic champion in the pursuit, has show that she will be hot to trot when the Olympics roll around by absolutely dominating the December World Cup events in Vernon and Canmore, Canada. Beckie finished no worse than 2nd in these events. Sara Renner, 2005 World Ski Championships bronze medallist (sprint), is also looking to have best-ever results at the Olympic games. Her sprint form remains top-notch and her distance fitness makes her ready to challenge everybody in all of the events. Milaine Theriault, attending her third Olympic Games, rounds out the veteran side of the women’s team in top shape for 2006. Chandra Crawford and Amanda Ammar fill the final two spots on the women’s side – both young talents attending their first Olympic Games. Chandra has already had 2 top-30 finishes this year in World Cup action, so watch for her to shine.

Although young and all Olympic rookies, the Canadian men’s team has a lot of of potential, particularly in the sprinting events. Last year Devon Kershaw and George Grey shocked the world, finishing 6th in the team sprint event at the World Ski Championships. Philip Widmer blasted to 4th place in the sprint qualifier in his first ever World Cup, in December 2005 in Vernon, BC. There’s a lot of potential in these gentlemen, all of whom will be considering Torino as a stepping stone to the Vancouver Olympics in 2010.