March 3, 2009 (Duntroon, ON) – The 2009 Canadian Cross Country Ski National Championships/Haywood Ski Nationals are coming up, March 8-15 in Duntroon, ON. Proudly hosted by the Highlands Trailblazers Ski Club at Highlands Nordic Ski Resort, here is an event preview, including list of who to watch in all categories.

Over 500 athletes representing Clubs and Teams across Canada and Northern United States will descend upon Highlands Nordic for a week of racing on the new trails designed to challenge the best. With coaches, support crews and spectators there are expected to be 800+ visitors spending 9 days in the Collingwood area.

Event Highlights:

Friday, March 13
– Sprint – Head-to-Head Sprint Heats and Finals – Open Men and Women: 1:00–3:00 p.m. @ Highlands Nordic
– Athlete Banquet at Eddy Bush Arena – 6:00–8:00 p.m – CCI Drumline as entertainment @ 7:30 p.m. (approx)
– Awards: @ 8:00 p.m. in front of the Federal Building Downtown Collingwood

Sunday, March 15
– Mass Start 50km race Open Men: 9:00 p.m.

We hope to welcome you to our National Event.

Schedule:

– Day 0: Saturday, March 7 – Official Training Day
– Day 1: Sunday, March 8 – Team Sprints – Format: Free – Start: 9:00 a.m.
– Day 2: Monday, March 9 – Indiv Free Short Distance – Start: 10:00 a.m. – Awards: 8:00 p.m., Downtown Collingwood in front of the Federal Building
– Day 3: Tuesday, March 10 – Official Training Day
– Day 4: Wednesday, March 11 – Indiv Classic Med Distance – Start: 10:00 a.m.
– Day 5: Thursday, March 12 – Classic Sprint Qualifiers and Heats – Juvenile, Junior and Para Nordic Divisions – Start: 10:00 a.m.
– Day 6: Friday, March 13 – Classic Sprint Qualifiers and Heats – Men, Women and CCUNC Divisions – Start: 10:00 a.m – Banquet: Arena, Downtown Collingwood, 6:00-8:00 p.m. – Awards: 8:00 p.m. – Downtown Collingwood in front of Federal Building
– Day 7: Saturday, March 14 – Official Training Day
– Day 8: Sunday, March 15 – Free Long Distance Races – Spectators are welcome. Click here for directions.

Spectators Guide to Canadian Cross Country Ski National Championships

Most exciting races to watch: Head to Head Sprint Finals

Most confusing to watch: Individual starts… Where the first to cross the finish line is NOT necessarily the winner.

Most inspiring races to watch: Finish of the 50km Open Men when 2 or more exhausted racers cross the line within seconds after a couple hours of racing

Most recent strategic move: double poling entire race in the tracks on skate skiis in a classic sprint race

Worst move by a spectator: Stepping across the race course and wrecking the tracks…

Best Spectator Behaviour: Ring those cowbells and CHEER!!!

Cross Country National Championships: How it works… sort of

There are two methods of racing:
1. Free (or skating) 2. Classic (the way most people learn…) like walking on skis… only the racers do it much faster.

There are three ways to start a race:

1. Individual Starts: Racers line up and are sent out one at a time every 3-15 seconds. First racer to cross the finish line is not necessarily the winner. Have to wait until all racers have crossed the finish line and all times are calculated before the winner is announced.

2. Mass Starts: All racers in a race line up in rows the faster racers are in the front centre rows. All racers start at the same time. First racer to cross the finish line is the winner.

3. Heats: 4-6 racers start at the same time and the first to cross the finish line is the winner. Used for Sprints usually.

Who to Watch

National Team Members: Aspiring 2010 Olympians Open Women:
– Brittany Webster
– Kate Brennan
– Perianne Jones

Ontario Team Members at the top of their game going into the Nationals:

Jr. Women
– Kara Jaspers, Thunder Bay
– Lindsay Inkila, Thunder Bay
– Christina Groulx, Thunder Bay
– Erin Tribe, Hardwood Hills

Jr. Men
– Ghislain DeLaplante: Thunder Bay

Juvenile Boys
– Adam Birosh, North Bay

Juvenile Girls
– Emma Spelt, Barrie

Local Heroes

Highland Trailblazers, Collingwood and Clearview residents:
– Kalli Green
– Megan Sinclair
– Shelby Dickey
– Camille Cheskey
– Molly Dyon

www.skinationals.com/2009