March 02, 2011 (Oslo, Norway) – Neither Alex Harvey nor Devon Kershaw could wipe the smiles off their faces, and the Nordic skiing world was smiling with them. It was just a matter of time before these two fast guys would win a world championship, even if it came at the expense of their Norwegian hosts.

Today was the day as the Team Sprint end up in a photo-finish with Harvey up against Norway’s Ola Vigen Hattestad who was 0.2 seconds back. Russia’s Sochi 2014 machine of Alexander Panzhinskiy and Nikita Kriukov were 0.5 seconds back for the bronze.

As he emerged from the fog, that once again enveloped the Holmenkollen, and flew down the finishline straightaway, Harvey knew he had it. Kershaw remembers his teammate crossing the line and kissing his finger – Number One. How very sweet this victory was – Canada’s first at the Nordic World Championships.

Alex’s father the great Pierre Harvey, who won the 50km event here at the Holmenkollen Festival in 1988, had tried to prepare him. “My father said it’s the best place in the world to race. It was his first world championships in 1982. Winning the Holmenkollen later was the biggest thing in his life.” At this point teammate Kershaw reminded Harvey that having him and two other kids was probably the biggest thing in his father’s life.

“Ya, besides his three kids” continued Harvey, with energy that belied the effort he had just put out. “He said, ‘Have fun – it’s going to be a blast.”

And blast they did – around the 1.5km course six times, patiently allowing their strategy to unfold as Norway, Russia, Germany, Finland, Kazahstan, Sweden and France fought through the dense fog and difficult waxing situation. They wanted to stay in the front of the 10 man field, which included the U.S. team of Andy Newell and Torin Koos, and let the pace unfold. “The pace was pretty slow in the first couple of legs,” said Kershaw, which is what they wanted.

In the semi-final somehow another ski hit Kershaw’s binding and undid it. All of a sudden almost as soon as the race had begun his ski was going in the opposite direction. “I calmly went back and got my ski,” said a still grinning Kershaw. “I thought ‘thirty seconds into the race and it’s over.’ But the adrenaline was pouring through my system. I lost around 10 seconds, but I caught up. I felt like garbage after the semis so I was happy about the slow pace at the beginning [of the final].”

It didn’t last though. “Panzhinskiy [the Russian skier] went – he jumped me. It was a surprise attack and I was caught out,” admitted Kershaw, but in many ways it worked for him. “Northug was going past me with the Finns on him.” This meant Kershaw could tuck in and hit the transition right in the pack and let the Norwegians and Finns help him get back in.

Meanwhile Harvey, a marked man, tended to mix it up a bit more, initiating attacks and counter attacks, especially on the climbs. The Canadians had excellent grip while the Norwegians gambled, at least on Northug’s skis, and went for glide. But they couldn’t use this decision as an excuse. It was Harvey who got by Norway’s Hattestad with his powerful double poling at the finish.

As the sixth and final leg hit the final 700 metres, it was Russia, Canada, Norway, Germany and Finland. Hattestad was in an outside track while Harvey was smartly on the inside. The Norwegian made his final move just before the last, fast corner and took the lead crossing over into the inside lane. Then it was up and over the short roller-coaster hill and into the straight away to the finish.

He had that great Norwegian glide and it may have appeared to the millions of Norwegians watching that there would be another gold to add to the 100 they have won at the World Championships, but Harvey moved into the centre lane and wasn’t going to let that happen.

He too had great skis and with each double pole moved in closer. It was clear he would catch Hattestad, but could he do it before the line? Harvey went into overdrive to take the win as Kershaw recalled, “After the last tag I was standing at the finish line staring into pea soup.  Out of the fog – there he was.”  Harvey and Kershaw made history winning Canada’s first gold at a World Championship.

It was a sprint for the history books as Germany followed Russia in fourth at 0.9 seconds back, with Finland, who had been so aggressive in the last two legs at 1.1 seconds behind. Kazahstan was the surprise 6th place team at 11.5 seconds behind, while Sweden and France lagged well behind on their last leg finishing 12.0 and 22.4 seconds back. Italy took 9th, 29.1 seconds behind, and the USA’s Koos and Newell grabbed 10th at 51.6 seconds back.

“This feels absolutely amazing to win the real World Championship medal and not just the World Juniors,” said Harvey, who added that he and Kershaw were quickly escorted to meet the King of Norway immediately following the race. “The Norwegians have like 100 World Championship medals and we won our first today for Canada. To do it at the birthplace of the sport is incredible.”

“It is a dream come true and to do this in in Norway is amazing,” said Kershaw. “I was nervous heading into the World Championships and this race, but we did it. I’m just so happy.”

“Devon handed off to me in a perfect position. I just skied my stride and picked my lines,” said Harvey. “With 300 metres to go I knew where I wanted to be on the last downhill. I have been practicing it all week and then I just went as hard as I could to the finish. It was just incredible with all those people going crazy.”

“This was such a team effort. Even the guys not racing today played a key role in training in helping us get ready.”

While the Canadians were gregarious and happy to talk about their strategy and strengths, the Russians and Norwegians were rather subdued. Both had come into this event very much wanting the gold. Norway’s Northug sat at the press conference with his waterbottle over his face until someone asked him how the race went.

Without breaking into even a slight smile at winning silver, he replied. “I am happy with the medal. It was a close fight with Canada and Russia in the last leg.” Teammate Hattestad said it was a tough race, but, “Harvey was too strong in the end. I missed one poling twenty metres before the finish line. Harvey was all of a sudden beside me. We knew they would be strong. Harvey is the fittest.”

When asked to comment on Harvey still being at the U23 World Championships while winning here, Northug was matter-of-fact. “I saw the race of his on TV. If you’re winning the U23 world championships, you’re also on top in the seniors.”

Panzhinskiy said his tactic was to “not use too much power in the first two legs, but to come into the transition in a position that would give Nikita an advantage. I wasn’t able to do that – other racers were stronger today.”  He added that in the morning he’d said to his teammate that they should win a medal today.

Kriukov commented saying, “Yes, he did a very good job. Four plus as we say in the Russian school system. We have to prepare for the next World Championships and the Olympics.” The Russians performed poorly at the 2010 Vancouver Games and it seems they’ve been told they have three years to get themselves beyond the bronze podium.

Kershaw said he and Harvey also had a morning discussion about the race. “We woke up at 9:45 this morning and Alex said to me ‘So how will it feel to be the world champion tonight?’ I said, ‘don’t, don’t say that. I don’t want to jinx us. I knew we could be world champions, but I didn’t think we were going to be.”

Both agreed they’d stay downtown tonight at university square after the medal ceremonies. It was definitely time to celebrate.