May 2, 2008 – Cross Country Canada, in partnership with Haywood Securities, Altagas and Teck Cominco, is launching a new initiative to enhance the athlete and coaching development relation between the National Ski Team and clubs around the country. Between June 23-29, all three senior NST coaches, Dave Wood, Eric De Nys and Arild Monsen will be travelling on three different itineraries in British-Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, each accompanied by two senior NST athletes, to visit club coaches and athletes.

Objectives:

1. Provide an opportunity for athletes and coaches at the Learning To Compete(LTC) stage of development and above to share the daily routine of a NST athlete or coach, in the context of Long Term Athlete Development(LTAD);

2. Provide club coaches with an opportunity to share thoughts and perspective with NST coaches about athlete and coaching development;

3. Situate where the NST program fits in the LTAD progression and what are the steps leading to the Training To Win stage;

4. Provide an opportunity for NST coaching staff and athletes to see and appreciate the state of HP development at the club level;

5. Strengthen the sense of a genuine national HP system in which all have distinct but complementary roles and are equally important for the long term success of Canadian xc skiers;

6. Provide young skiers the opportunity to emulate the NST athletes by training and sharing thoughts with them;

7. Demonstrate key factors of adequate and efficient training at the LTC and TTC levels

Specific dates and locations

– Rossland/Nelson (BC): Eric DeNys, Phil Widmer, Perianne Jones (June 23-25)

– Kelowna (BC): Eric DeNys, Phil Widmer, Perianne Jones (June 26-29)

– Edmonton (AB): Arild Monsen, Sean Crooks, Sara Renner (June 23-25)

– Canmore (AB): Arild Monsen, Sean Crooks, Sara Renner (June 26-29)

– Barrie/Hardwood Hills (ON): Dave Wood, Chandra Crawford, Devon Kershaw (June 23-24)

– Ottawa/Gatineau (ON-QC): Dave Wood, Chandra Crawford, Devon Kershaw (June 25-26)

– Quebec City/MSA (QC): Dave Wood, Chandra Crawford, Devon Kershaw (June 27-28)

Eligible participants

Active coaches and athletes at the LTC stage and above (juveniles and older athletes holding a valid 07-08 CCC racing license). As the training sessions and presentations are designed for this level of development, participating athletes should have a good training background at provincial and national level; coaches should be involved in year round programs with athletes at the LTC level and above.

Program

1. Distance training and technique sessions: classic and skate rollerski, ski striding

2. Strength session: circuit training

3. NST athletes presentation: “The life of a NST athlete and what leads to it: the athlete perspective” (for athletes and coaches)

4. NST coach presentation: “The life of a NST athlete and what leads to it: the coach perspective” (for coaches only)

5. Open discussions/forum with NST coaches and athletes

6. Group meals and athlete social

Registration

Formal registration process including program and schedule details, logistics and fees will be provided in the coming weeks by each location’s Local Organizing Club (LOC). Make a mark on your calendar and stay tuned!

NB: Each LOC will set distinct registration limits that will not exceed 50 athletes; we do not anticipate having to cap coaches’ participation at this time. Participants will have to provide their own on site ground transport