March 8, 2007 (Labrador City, NL) РThe Menihek Nordic Ski Club is one of just six clubs from across Canada who have been selected to host a CPR Ski Tournament this spring. Along with hosting young skiers from across Labrador, the local Club will have three- time Canadian cross-country Olympian Milaine Th̩riault on hand to share her story and provide skiing tips to what could be more than 200 skiers from ages four to 13 years of age on March 10, 2007. Theriault has been a member of the National Team for the past 12 years and recently took a year off to start a family.

“We are pleased to have been chosen by CCC and the On-Track sponsor, Canadian Pacific Railway, to take part in this national program. The club expects to host up to 200 young skiers and have fun races, sprints, relay races, a treasure hunt, a three legged race and other team sports planned for the day. Milaine will be on hand to give skiing techniques, talk about what it takes to become an Olympian and to sign autographs,” says Gerry Rideout, Menihek Club President.

Milaine CPR

Following the full day of activities an awards banquet will be held with the school with the highest participation receiving the Inukshuk Award. Technique and sprint/relay medals will be presented and all participants will receive a CCC T-shirt to mark the fact they took part in the event.

CPR has supported the National Ski Team since 2004 and in 2006 announced a four-year commitment to enhance children’s cross-country ski programs by sponsoring past and present National and Olympic team members to regional events.

Thériault was on hand during the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy where team members captured multiple medals and had a 10th place finish herself. Having joined the Jackrabbit program in St. Quentin, New Brunswick, she is very aware of the value of this program for children who wish to enjoy the sport or to progress to higher aspirations such as the provincial or national teams.

Invitations have been sent out to all the elementary schools in Labrador West as well as Ski Clubs in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Churchill Falls and other communities across Labrador.

Contact: Menihek Nordic Ski Club

Gerry Rideout-president
rideoutg@crrstv.net
www.meniheknordicski.ca