March 20, 2012 (Mont Ste-Anne, QC) – Norway has sent its top two junior men and U23 women to Mont Ste-Anne so the Nordic powerhouse can check out the courses for next December’s World Cup. Accompanied by national U23 Head Coach, Sjur Ole Svarstad, junior skiers Martin Nyenget (7^th and 9^th at the Junior Worlds plus bronze in the relay) and Sindre Skar (one silver and three bronze including the relay) are on hand.

Also competing are U23 women Britt Ingunn Nydal (8^th at U23 Worlds and a medalist in 2011) and Ragnhild Haga (9^th at U23 Worlds) who will contest today’s interval start skate race. Marte Haakenstad Braaten, also of Norway and racing for the Rocky Mountain Skiers out of Banff, won the Junior Girl’s competition yesterday.

“We had a short winter, but this is really special” says Svarstad of Norway’s ski season as he looked out on the course under mid-teen temperatures, cloudless skies and skiers with little else on besides tights and racing bibs. France has also sent a team of three skiers.