November 22, 2015 (Saariselkae, Finland) – The Finish season is underway with Saariselkae the site of it’s third weekend of competitions as Dario Cologna and the Swiss team, along with Alexander Legkov and the Russian squad stretched their legs. Legkov took top honours in the Day One 10km FR with Cologna 4th while Maxim Vylegzhanin (RUS) grabbed the 15km CL victory on Day 2 as Cologna settled for third.

Widmer at the start of the 5km FR © Martina Nägele

A lone Canuck was on the start line, Heidi Widmer, who finished 14th on the women’s 5km CL race but didn’t compete on Day Two because, “I did a classic sprint simulation with the men’s team and some of the Russians on Friday,” said Widmer.

We almost missed her in the results as she’s listed as a SUI…so we caught up with Widmer for the inside scoop on her Swiss connection to Dario and Co.

Widmer is all smiles for the camera © Martina Nägele

“I originally looked to Switzerland to come train this year for the summer and fall season. I had an awesome experience in 2013 training with the team and had made the connection because I had met Christian Flury (SwissSki) in Canada when he worked for the Alberta World Cup Academy in 2010/11,” wrote Widmer.

“The question to come to train then turned into being offered a place in Training Group 3, TG3, on the Swiss National Team and switching nations. They were looking to strengthen their women’s team and I was looking for a change in my training. I have been living and training in Davos since June,” she continued.

New pals (l-r) Nadine Fähndrich, Widmer Nathalie Von Siebenthal © Martina Nägele

So how can she switch nations we wondered? The answer lies in her blog…”My father is Swiss and my mother Canadian which makes me a Swiss-Canadian citizen. This season I will be racing under a different formation of red and white! I am excited for this opportunity and although this change hasn’t come without a fair amount of challenges, I am confident that by immersing myself and being open to new philosophies and opportunities, I only have room to grow.”

Widmer provided more details regarding the paperwork required. ” Snow Sport Canada required that I sign a ‘letter of release’ and send it to FIS, essentially saying that there were no outstanding conflicts that would prevent me from leaving Canada. SwissSki was also required to send a ‘letter of request’ that was also received and processed by FIS at their June meetings. My dad was born in Switzerland which means that my siblings and I have Swiss nationality and passports. With a copy of my dad’s passport and a copy of my Swiss Passport submitted, it was up to FIS to approve the change in Nation.”

Widmer graduated from high school in Banff in 2008 and from then until 2015 was part of the Alberta World Cup Academy in Canmore, Alberta. She also raced for the Canadian National Ski Team from 2013-2015 and represented the red maple leaf at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.

Widmer explores new ways to grow... © Martina Nägele

Her new home in Davos is exciting but challenging at the same time. “It is not easy to truly live away from my home and family for the first time, but incredibly rewarding. I feel extremely grateful for this opportunity and for the season and years ahead!

“The challenges of dealing with a new language, new team, home sickness and a new country are all well lessons I am enjoying learning. Sounds strange, but constantly being outside my comfort zone has forced and enabled me to grow mentally and physically,” she added.

We wondered about her schedule this season and if Ski Tour Canada is in the cards as well.

“We travel home to Switzerland today and then I will race the Swiss Cups in Goms on December 5/6. Providing that these races go well, I’ll start in the Davos World Cup, with focus on the sprint. After these two race weekends, I will have a better idea as to whether I’ll be racing more Continental Cups or if the door to race Toblach and Lenzerheide World Cup will be open.

“Ski Tour Canada is possible – but one step at a time! My dream is absolutely to represent Switzerland at the Tour de Canada. It is a long shot, but I will race as fast as possible and let the decisions fall as they may,” she concluded.

All the best Heidi…read more about Widmer here.

Results

Day 1

LADIES’ 5 km F 

1.  TIKHONOVA Yulia BLR 11:22.7
2.  TANYGINA Alevtina RUS +0.2
3.  VON SIEBENTHAL Nathalie SUI +4.3
4.  FAEHNDRICH Nadine SUI +8.7
5.  STADLOBER Teresa AUT +12.2

14.  WIDMER Heidi CAN +38.3

Complete ladies’ results available HERE.

MEN’S 10 km F

1. LEGKOV Alexander RUS 23:07.4
2. TURYSHEV Sergey RUS +3.1
3. VYLEGZHANIN Maxim RUS +4.6
4. COLOGNA Dario SUI +5.8
5. PERL Curdin SUI +7.5

Complete men’s results available HERE.

Day 2

LADIES’ 10 km C 

1.  STADLOBER Teresa AUT 29:27.1
2.  TIKHONOVA Yulia BLR +1.5
3.  NEPRYAEVA Natalia RUS +6.4
4.  NIKOLAEVA Svetlana RUS +11.5
5.  ZHUKOVA Natalia RUS +13.7

Complete ladies’ results available HERE. 

MEN’S 15 km C

1. VYLEGZHANIN Maxim RUS 37:13.1
2. TURYSHEV Sergey RUS +13.1
3. COLOGNA Dario SUI +57.7
4. LARKOV Andrey RUS +1:13.8
5. PERL Curdin SUI +1:19.8

Complete men’s results available HERE.