December 16, 2008 (Anchorage, AK) – Fast and Female is less than a month away from being involved in its first international event scheduled for January 9, 2009 in Alaska, USA. Led by current US Cross-Country Ski Team member and two-time Olympian, Kikkan Randall, this inaugural Alaskan event will be held in conjunction with the US Nationals and feature select Fast and Female seminars, namely cross-country skiing drills, inspirational speeches, and healthy eating. Intended for young women aged 9 to 19, this “Fast and Female US” edition will be held between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Kincaid Park in Anchorage, Alaska.

“Fast and Female is such a great program and I’m excited to bring the enthusiasm to the US,” said Randall who became the first American woman to win a cross country World Cup with her Dec. 16, 2007 sprint win in Rybinsk, Russia.

Fast and Female, which was founded in 2005 by Canada’s Olympic Gold medalist in cross-country skiing, Chandra Crawford, has hosted five festivals days since its inception. In total, more than 500 young women have taken part in Fast and Female Festival days held at Silver Star Ski Resort (B.C.), Canmore (AB), Thunder Bay (ON), Mont-Saint-Anne (QC), and Callaghan Valley’s Whistler Olympic Park (B.C.). As the first international event for Fast and Female, this Alaskan event hopes to engage over 50 participants.

“I’m thrilled that my fast friend Kikkan is taking the Fast and Female message of empowerment through sport to the many young female Alaskan skiers,” said Chandra Crawford. “Kikkan and I are working together on the organizations’ two goals: 1) Spread the Love and 2) Dominate the World. We’re pulling the level up from the top with our results and pushing it up from the bottom with this grassroots program. Partnering with outstanding female athletes as ambassadors to share the Fast and Female mission with young women located in all four corners of the world is so awesome. Thanks to Kikkan’s leadership, we’re one step closer to having a global reach.”

Fast and Female, which is based in Canmore (AB), will be supporting this premier Alaskan edition by supplying event concept guidelines, branded merchandise for participants and marketing/PR reach. “I’m convinced the girls will have a great time,” added Crawford. “Kikkan is so energetic and inspiring individual and I hope this event is the beginning of a long relationship between her and Fast and Female. She was our keynote speaker at the ’08 Whistler event and it was super cool.”

Fast and Female intends to host its signature annual Festival in Canada in March 2009 in the Calgary region. The Fast and Female Festival will feature a full day of cross-country skiing, biathlon, lunch, inspirational talks, yoga, dancing, and giveaways. The event will also feature an adult seminar intently focused on empowering parents and coaches supporting female athletes. More details about this event will be released in the coming weeks. Visit www.fastandfemale.com.