November 10, 2002 (Fairbanks, Alaska) – The snow was lacking, but that did not keep National Cross Country ski team member Beckie Scott from finding her stride to win the senior women's 10 km skate race at the opening Continental Cup race of the season held in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Scott, the first Canadian cross-country skier to medal at the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City last February, proved she is still on top at the start of this post-Olympic year. Winning in a time of 24:35, Scott won by a minute and 40 seconds over second place American skier Wendy Wagner. She feels confident in her performance.

“I felt really good this morning,” says Beckie. “This race bodes well for my World Cup preparation.” Coach Dave Wood, who recently won the 3M Coaching Canada award in the category of high-performance sport, is pleased with Beckie's result.

“Beckie is ready for the World Cup,” Wood says. “Her shape is really good and she seems ready to go.” Fellow Canadian team members Sara Renner came in fifth today in a time of 26:45 and Milaine Theriault did not start. There were no Canadian men racing.

The races come at the end of a two-week long training camp for the Canadian Cross Country ski team. The Continental Cup series continues Sunday, Nov. 10/02 with the sprint event.

CCC is the national sport governing body for cross-country skiing in Canada, servicing over 45,000 members in 375 clubs. The corporate vision: “It takes a ski community to raise Olympic medallists”, embraces the Association's focus from entry level club development to the enhancement of the National Ski Team program.