January 06, 2014 (Canmore, AB) – Canada’s top cross-country ski athletes not competing on the World Cup will battle for the final spots on Canada’s Olympic cross-country ski team while kicking off the Haywood NorAm and Olympic, Under-23 and World Junior Trials at the Canmore Nordic Centre, January 8-12, 2014.

A total of 36 men and 22 women will compete in a series of four races in Canmore, Alta. to determine the final members that will be eligible to be named to the Canadian Olympic Team for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

Canada will name two men (one distance ski athlete and one sprint skier), and two women (one distance ski athlete and one sprint skier). The announcement will be made during Cross Country Canada’s Olympic Team Announcement on January 14 in Calgary.

Many of Canada’s big names will headline the field competing on the nation’s premier development race series over the next two weeks including: Brian McKeever and his two training partners, Erik Carleton and Graham Nishikawa; Jesse Cockney, who competed on the World Cup for the first half of the season; and Patrick Stewart-Jones who was the top sprinter in Canada during the December NorAm races. Canadian biathlete, Zina Kocher who was recently named to her third Olympic team, will also try to earn a spot the women’s roster. Kocher competed in a World Cup cross-country ski race and at the Canadian Championships in 2013.

Pre-qualified Olympic athletes, Chandra Crawford and Lenny Valjas, will also suit up for additional pre-Olympic race preparation.

The Under-23 and World Junior Trials will also be held in conjunction with the Olympic Trials. More than 225 athletes from across the country will descend on the world-renowned Canmore Nordic Centre for the week.

Canada plans to field a minimum team of 11 athletes for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. World Cup Team Members, Alex Harvey, Devon Kershaw, Ivan Babikov, Lenny Valjas, Daria Gaiazova, Perianne Jones and Chandra Crawford have all pre-qualified to be named to the team.

Canadian Olympic Trials Schedule

January 8, 2014  10 a.m. OWG Start – Canmore Nordic Centre, Canmore, Alta.
– Women’s and Men’s Skate-Sprint

January 9, 2014 9 a.m. OWG Start- Canmore Nordic Centre, Canmore, Alta.
– Men’s and Women’s Interval Classic-Ski Start
– Olympic Trials Men 15km/Women’s 10km
– Junior Men 10km/Women’s 5km

January 11, 2014 9 a.m. OWG Start – Canmore Nordic Centre, Canmore, Alta.
– Men’s and Women’s Skate-Sprint

January 12, 2014 9 a.m. OWG Start – Canmore Nordic Centre, Canmore, Alta.
– Men’s and Women’s Skiathlon
– Olympic Trials Men 30km/Women’s 15km
– Junior Men 20km/Women’s 10km