May 2, 2009 – We caught up with Chris Dornan, Media and Public Relations for Cross Country Canada (CCC), regarding the recent news that Executive Director, Al Maddox, and the CCC Board of Directors had reached an agreement to part company. Dornan told us that the Board is looking beyond the 2010 Vancouver Games, only 10 months away, and decided in consort with Maddox to find the right person with creativity and passion to lead the organization and grow the sport beyond the Games from the grassroots on up.

He indicated that the process has been initiated and Maddox will remain until the end of May and work through the transition when a new Executive Director is hired.

We asked if the recent decision to hire Norway’s Arild Monsen as National Team Coach in Oct. 2008, and replace him with the legendary Inga Braten (also from Norway) in April 2009 had any bearing on things but were told there was no connection and the new coaching arrangements were going well.

Dornan said there were no details on candidates in the running for Maddox’s job but said an announcement would be forthcoming when a new xecutive Director is selected.