February 4, 2006 – Canada’s Chandra Crawford sprinted her way onto the podium in just her sixth World Cup race. The 22-year-old World Cup rookie finished third on Saturday in a star-studded field in Davos, Switzerland.

“WOW – I am absolutely shocked,” said an exhilarated and emotional Crawford following the race. “I came across the line, looked at the whole team standing together cheering me on and I was just so proud to be a part of that team, and the supportive environment we have for each other. I was gutsy all day and racing for my life.”

The Canmore, Alta. native had an eventful day on her journey to the podium. After qualifying for the head-to-head heats with the top 30, the Canadian rookie squeaked past the quarter-final heat after a photo finish. Heading into the semifinals, Crawford threw the tactics aside on the difficult course loaded with twisty uphill – a strategic move that ultimately led her to the medals.

“I just told myself to pretend I was on the course alone because it is so tough, and to go as hard as I could. It worked and I skied the whole thing in front,” said Crawford, who added she took great advice from World Cup veteran and teammate Sara Renner throughout the day. “I then realized I was in a fight for the medals, and was near the front until the final twisty hill where a bunch of us started stepping all over each others skis, but I was so happy to finish third.”

Sweden’s Anna Dahlberg and Finland’s Virpi Kuitunen, who also came through the pile on top finished first and second respectively.

Crawford, who has taken the fast line to excellence at the senior level, has been turning in some impressive results in her rookie season on the World Cup. It has been a steady climb to the top this year in the sprint events finishing 28th, 10th, eighth and third. Since joining international cross-country ski stars like Beckie Scott and Sara Renner during her first year on the Canadian Senior Team in 2004, Crawford hit the international podium six times in Under 23 World Championships and Opa Cup events.

“This is an extremely impressive result and surpasses our expectations for Chandra,” said Dave Wood, head coach of one of the strongest cross-country ski teams Canada has ever sent to an Olympic Games. “You always hope for the best like this, but you don’t expect this much, this fast.”

Canada’s Beckie Scott was also on pace to charge for another podium spot on Saturday. Described as an up-and-down day in her final Olympic tune-up race, Scott had a challenging semi-final heat, and was relegated to the B final, which she won to finish in fifth spot. Canada’s Sara Renner, who won her first World Cup medal in the sprint event in Vernon, B.C. last December, advanced through the first round, but also faced one of the most challenging heats of the day in the semi-finals, and had to settle for 12th spot.

Crawford’s third-place finish builds on an already impressive season by Canada’s entire cross-country ski squad, which includes eight trips to the World Cup podium and career-best finishes for many of the nation’s top male skiers.

“The whole climate of our team right now is really take no prisoners,” said Crawford, whose focus now turns to the Olympic Games. “We are unforgiving and ready to challenge the best. There is a real vibe going through our entire team. Today I was as excited for my podium finish as Drew’s (Goldsack) amazing result in the men’s race – that was awesome too.”

Canada’s Drew Goldsack posted his best ever World Cup result in an extremely challenging men’s field. The Red Deer, Alta. native, who was one of four Canadians in the field, and only one to qualify for the heats, finished 19th.

Devon Kershaw, of Sudbury, Ont., who was making his first strides back on the World Cup after taking most of the season off with a rib injury, just missed qualifying for the heats, and finished 31st. Phil Widmer, of Banff, Alta., was 48th, while Chris Jeffries, of Chelsea, Que., was 53rd.

However, it was Sweden’s Bjoern Lind who came out on top in the men’s division. Lind knocked off Christian Zorzi of Italy, who finished second, while Norway’s John Kristan Dahl claimed the bronze medal.

Canada’s cross-country ski athletes will hit the start line for their final World Cup race Sunday before heading to the Olympic Winter Games next week.

Cross Country Canada is the governing body of cross-country skiing in Canada. Its 45,000 members are athletes, coaches and officials, including members of the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team and Canadian Disabled Cross-Country Ski Team. Cross-country skiing is Canada’s optimal winter sport and recreational activity with more than one million Canadians participating annually.

Complete Results: <http://www.fis-ski.com>
Top-5 Women and Canadian Results:
1.Anna Dahlberg, SWE; 2. Virpi Kuitunen, FIN; 3. Chandra Crawford, Canmore, Alta., CAN; 4. Ella Gjoemle, NOR; 5. Beckie Scott, Vermilion, Alta., CAN.
Other Canadian Results:
12. Sara Renner, Canmore, Alta., CAN

Top-5 Men and Canadian Results:
1.Bjoern Lind, SWE; 2. Christian Zorzi, ITA; 3. John Kristian Dahl, NOR; 4. Loris Frasnelli, ITA; 5. Boerre Naess, NOR.
Canadian Results:
19. Drew Goldsack, Red Deer, Alta., CAN; 31. Devon Kershaw, Sudbury, Ont., CAN; 48. Phil Widmer, Banff, Alta., CAN; 53. Chris Jeffries, Chelsea, Que., CAN.