March 19, 2011 (Canmore, Alta.) – George Grey celebrated the perfect ending to his cross-country skiing career and the Haywood Ski Nationals by winning the men’s 50-kilometre skate-ski race in Canmore, Alta. on Saturday.

The 31-year-old, 10-year veteran of the National Ski Team, who officially announced his retirement heading into the final race of the national cross-country skiing festival, captured his third victory of the week by setting the golden time at two hours, six minutes, 58.2 seconds.

“It was the most fun I have ever had in a 50-kilometre race,” said Grey, who represented Canada at the 2006 and 2010 Olympics, along with five World Championships events. “I crossed the finish line and my dad was there waiting for me. We were both very misty eyed and fighting back tears. It was an emotional day, but I had so much fun being here with friends, family and teammates.”

Grey, of Rossland, B.C., set the pace for the Nordic marathon over the first nine kilometres before settling into the pack until the 45-kilometre mark where he put down the hammer and powered his way to victory during his final lap around the Canmore Nordic Centre where he has spent the last decade of his life, racing, training on snow, roller-skiing and running trails.

“To go out by winning three gold medals in each of the distance races at the Canadian Championships in Canmore is a pretty awesome ending to a career,” said Grey, who claimed one World Cup medal in a team sprint relay in 2009 at Whistler Olympic Park with Alex Harvey. “I didn’t take these races for granted at all. I wanted to race at a very high level and we have some great talent in the Canadian system and they pushed me each day. But to go out on top is very special.”

“When I was skiing to the finish, I just kept thinking of all those people that have been so supportive of me throughout my career. From coaches, to friends and family and sponsors and wax technicians,” said Grey. “Today is the end of an amazing chapter in my life, and the start of an exciting new beginning.”

Grey held off the 24-year-old Brent McMurtry who fought hard for the silver medal. The Calgarian clocked-in at 2:07:01.1. Calgary’s Kevin Sandau, who dominated the Canada Winter Games last month, finished third with a time of 2:07:18.1.

In the women’s 30-kilometre skate-ski race it was American Chelsea Holmes who was first to cross the finish line with a time of 1:26:02.1. But Daria Gaiazova, of Banff, Alta., will leave the Canmore Nordic Centre with her second national title of the week after finishing as the top Canadian in second spot at 1:26:24.2. Gaiazova also won the women’s Teck Sprint race on Wednesday.

Calgary’s Brooke Gosling rounded out the women’s podium in third place with a time of 1:26:24.2.

Full results HERE.
Results (brief)

1. George Grey, Rossland, B.C., 2:06:58.2
2. Brent McMurtry, Calgary, 2:-7:01.1
3. Kevin Sandau, Calgary, 2:07:18.1
4. Michael Somppi, Thunder Bay, Ont., 2:07:43.9
5. Pate Neumann, Canmore, Alta., 2:07:45.0.

Women

1. Chelsea Holmes, USA, 1:26:02.1
2. Daria Gaiazova, Banff, Alta., 1:26:22.4
3. Brooke Gosling, Calgary, 1:26:24.2
4. Evelyn Dong, USA, 1:26:26.0
5. Chandra Crawford, Canmore, Alta., 1:27:32.