February 8, 2008 – Following the postponement (due to lack of snow) of the World Junior U23 Championships until February 21-28 in Sczcyrk, Poland, Alex Harvey’s Centre national d’entraînement Pierre-Harvey (CNEPH) team flew back to Quebec City in late January, but Harvey, Canada’s top junior star, stayed on in Europe. The competition was originally due to take place from February 4-8. Harvey emailed SkiTrax last week to explain his plans.

“For my part, I’m joining the senior national team for a training camp in Pontresina and then taking part in some World Cup events. I’m in good shape right now and it would be stupid not to take advantage of my good shape. I don’t really expect any big results at a [senior] world cup level. But hey, you never know!”

“My objective is still the Nordic Junior Worlds and we should have a confirmation by February 11 if they really will be held this month in Poland. As we speak there is still no snow there, but Ramsau is a paradise! I think that it’s also a paradise in Pontresina!”

“My pattern is to become stronger as the season progresses. Each race makes me better and I can recover well between weekend competitions. I can also continue to train during the season, allowing me not to “crash” halfway through the season. So, the postponement of the [Junior] Worlds by three weeks works in my favour!”

Harvey, 19, is in his last year as a junior. In 2007 he distinguished himself by winning bronze at the Junior Worlds FIS Nordic Junior World Championships in Tarvisio, Italy in March. Harvey’s team, the CNEPH, is named after his father, Pierre Harvey. His CNEPH team mates at the include Julien Nury and Frédéric Touchette.

Meanwhile, a report in Le Soleil suggests that the 2008 Junior Worlds might be postponed until March 22 and moved to Finland if there is insufficient snow in Poland by next week.