November 16, 2011 (Finland) – The on-going lack of snow at early season race venues in Scandinavia has forced the cancellation of a number of events and disrupted the racing and travel plans of teams that have travelled there, including the Canadian national team and a group from the Vermont-based Craftsbury Green Racing Project (CGRP).

FIS has announced the cancellation of the races planned for Rovaniemi, Finland, this weekend. Members of both the Canadian national team and the CGRP group were scheduled to compete there. The Canadians will continue training in Ostersund, Sweden, with members of the Senior World Cup squad travelling to Sjusjoen, Norway, for the World Cup opener this weekend.

The CGRP group will continue training in Muonio, Finland, until returning home next week, with the exception of USST member Ida Sargent, who will stay on to race in both the Sjusjoen and Kuusamo World Cups, according to CGRP coach Pepa Miloucheva, who was reached by SkiTrax.

Meanwhile, crews continue to prepare for the World Cup opener this weekend, which was moved from the snow-free Beitestolen to Sjusjoen last week. The Norwegian Ski Federation reports that the snow situation in Sjusjoen is “under control”.

Sjusjoen World Cup web site HERE.