January 30, 2013 (Montebello, QC) – Fast and Female is inviting female cross country ski enthusiasts ages 7 to 19 to attend an afternoon activity of inspiration on February 9 led by 2010 Olympian Madeleine Williams as part of the Canadian Ski Marathon.

Williams, an accomplished cross country skier and runner as well as a current Law student at McGill university will join the girls for an inspirational presentation followed by a personal development exercise on attitude as well as fun dance and yoga sessions. The event will take place at Château Montebello – one of the largest log-built hotels in the world – from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm on Saturday, February 9.

“I’m very excited to be leading the Fast and Female event at the Canadian Ski Marathon because this event is one of our country’s premiere ski events,” said Williams. “This is a great opportunity to reach an audience of racers and recreational skiers alike. Inspiring girls to stay in sport is important to me because sport teaches so many vital life lessons and encourages lifelong health,” concluded the retired World Cup cross country racer who still competes in cross country running.

As a two-day event, the CSM features 160 kilometres of skiing divided into 5 sections each day, with an average of 16 km per section. Skiers of all ages and abilities are welcome to participate and can do so safely. There are checkpoints at the end of each section providing food, first, aid an other services, as well as shuttle buses that run between accommodation and checkpoints throughout each day. The CSM alternates its direction each year, from East to West one year and then West to East the next – between Gatineau and Lachute.

Unlike most ski events, there are no winners or losers in the Canadian Ski Marathon. Each skier can select his/her own level of challenge and try to achieve it. One can ski as little as 12 km or up to the maximum of 160 km over the weekend.

“Chandra Crawford, Madeline Williams and the Fast and Female team have brought an inspiring energy to the 2013 Canadian Ski Marathon,” said Bill Syrros, CSM President “We recognize and respect the level of empowerment and encouragement they’re offering to CSM youth; to ski and to be the best that they can be.”

Fast and Female is a non-profit organization launched in seven years ago by Chandra Crawford – 2006 Olympic gold medalist and honorary president for this year’s edition of the Canadian Ski Marathon. The organization’s mission is to support, encourage and motivate girls to stay in sports. It is believed that girls are six times more likely to drop out of sports than boys by the time they reach 14 years old.

“I’m super pumped that we are able to bring the Fast and Female message of joy for sport to the girls taking part in the Canadian Ski Marathon,” said Crawford who is in Europe for the remainder of the World Cup season. “The CSM is a tremendous event for participants of all ages and abilities to push their limits in a fun and supportive environment. This is extremely in line with Fast and Female’s values of inspiring all girls to follow their passions for sport and continuously challenge themselves to improve as athletes and as human beings. I’m sure all the girls attending the Fast and Female activity will learn a lot from Madeleine’s presence and her lessons on perseverance and determination.”

The February 9 Fast and Female activity in Montebello is open to female youth Canadian Ski Marathon participants as well as non participants from the area.

The cost for the events is $25 for youth and includes a Fast & Female t-shirt, a healthy snack, a magazine subscription (Pedal or SkiTrax) and an autographed poster. Online registration is open until February 8 at lunch time HERE or at www.fastandfemale.com.

As a complement to the event, Fast and Female and the Canadian Ski Marathon are also partnering to run a Marathon Girl Contest. As part of the contest, girls ages 7 to 19 registered in the Canadian Ski Marathon are invited to submit a short paragraph on what makes them exemplary Fast and Female Marathon Girls. Ten young women will be selected as part of this contest and will be rewarded with a free Fast and Female Buff. Entries in the contest can be sent to info@fastandfemale.com.

For more information about the Canadian Ski Marathon and to register, click HERE.

August 14, 2012 Montebello, QC – The 47th edition of the Canadian Ski Marathon (CSM) taking place on February 9 and 10, 2013 in Montebello, QC will enjoy the endorsement of one of Canada’s golden girls – Chandra Crawford.

Crawford (28) is a native of Canmore, Alberta and surprised everyone at the 2006 Olympics in Torino when she won gold in the skate sprint cross country skiing discipline. Her other career highlights include six podiums achieved on the World Cup circuit and seven national titles.

“I’m very excited and honoured to be supporting the Canadian Ski Marathon in the capacity of honorary president,” said Crawford. “The event boasts a very solid status as a classic Canadian ski event and also enjoys an outstanding international reputation,” added the active member of the Canadian Cross Country ski team who has her sight on the 2014 Olympics.

As a two-day event, the CSM features 160 kilometre of skiing divided into 5 sections each day, with an average of 16 km per section. Skiers of all ages and abilities are welcome to participate and can do so safely. There are checkpoints at the end of each section providing food, first, aid an other services, as well as shuttle buses that run between accommodation and checkpoints throughout each day. The CSM alternates its direction each year, from East to West one year and then West to East the next – between Gatineau and Lachute.

Unlike most ski events, there are no winners or losers in the Canadian Ski Marathon. Each skier can select his/her own level of challenge and try to achieve it. One can ski as little as 12 km or up to the maximum of 160 km over the weekend.

“With its open and non-competitive spirit, the Canadian Ski Marathon stands for celebrating the great sport of cross country skiing, promoting healthy lifestyles and encouraging participants to push their personal limits,” highlighted Crawford. “These values are very dear to my heart both as an athlete and as a philanthropist,” concluded the athlete who was named among Canada’s most influential women in sport in 2010 for her work as founder of Fast and Female, a program dedicated to empowering young women through sport.

In addition to offering tremendous skiing opportunities through the Laurentian mountains, the CSM is highlighted by the over-night stop in Montebello, home of the famous Château Montebello, one of the largest log-built hotels in the world.

“We are absolutely thrilled that Chandra is this year’s Honorary President. The energy that she brings to cross-country skiing and the Canadian Ski Marathon is absolutely contagious! We know that Chandra’s involvement in the CSM will inspire other young ladies and gentlemen skiers to ski in the CSM and see just how far they can ski” said Bill Syrros, President, Canadian Ski Marathon.

Past Canadian Ski Marathon Honorary Presidents have included: Hon. Peter Milliken, Hon. Peter MacKay, and Stephanie Vallee, Deputee de Gatineau, Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier.

Crawford will be in the midst of World Cup competition when the CSM takes place this February. Nonetheless, she will be lending a hand to spread the word and support the event in the months leading up to it.

“I will definitively be there in spirit and look forward to hearing about everyone’s great time on the trails!” she concluded.

For more information on the Canadian Ski Marathon and to register, click HERE.

January 31, 2012 (Montebello, ON) – I am very proud to report that despite recent freezing rain and warm weather, the traditional trail – Gatineau-Montebello-Lachute – is in excellent condition. The full trail has been groomed creating a hard base with some parts of the trail boasting 45cm of snow.

… With plenty of snow expected in the forecast, groomers will do another pass next week to further pack down the trail for optimal conditions during the marathon. Other updates to the trail include;

– Section 7: Thanks to the generosity of the land owners east of St. Sixte, the trail is back in the fields, thereby avoiding the 2 km of skiing the sandy, salty snow bank along highway 317.

– Section 6: The Highway 50 underpass west of Montebello has been completed, eliminating the need to cross any autoroute construction sites.

– Section 5: The rocky pieces of trail north of Montebello, especially notorious in the last 2 years, has been completely rebuilt using a hydraulic shovel. The ups and downs are still there, but the rocks are gone and the previous hair raising turns are much safer.

– Section 4: The trail has been relocated to avoid the hill with the hairpin turn going down to the Kinonge River valley. It is still a big hill, but with sweeping turns and a new wide bridge at the bottom.

Plans are already in the works for more trail improvements in 2013 so we can all test our personal limits on a challenging, but safe, trail.

We are also happy to announce that CSM Section 5 (Montebello to Kanauk) is open now for people to try out before the marathon. You can pick up passes at the Hotel Ski Shop.

Finally, please reach out to all unregistered skiers who may be sitting on the fence. Don’t let the “It didn’t or I didn’t(s)” stop them from having an incredible February CSM experience.

Help us fill up the Montebello with sweaty skiers telling amazing CSM stories – don’t wait, book your Montebello room today!

www.csm-mcs.com

Bill Syrros
President, CSM

January 13, 2011 (Montreal, QC) – The 45th Canadian Ski Marathon features adventure and camaraderie on cross-country skis with a 160km route over two days for 2,000+ skiers. First run in 1967 as part of Canada’s centennial celebration, the world’s longest ski tour follows a route just north of the Ottawa River in Quebec’s Western Laurentian Mountains – from Lachute just outside of Montreal, to Gatineau north of Ottawa, with an overnight in Montebello.

Ski the whole route or as many sections as you’d like – there are Tourer divisions and breakdowns for age and gender, as well as for families and teams. Or enter the Coureur des Bois category and ski the whole 9 yards – 160km.

This year, the Canadian Ski Marathon announced an alliance with the Canadian Birkebeiner in Edmonton, Alberta and the Canadian Armed Forces Personnel and Family Support Services for the first Annual Nordic Ski Day in Canada to be held on Saturday February 12, 2011.

The CSM and Canadian “Birkie” are inviting the men and women who proudly serve in the Canadian Forces to come and challenge themselves at either event. And the Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, is the CSM’s Honourary President for the second straight year.

Register today HERE.
Read more HERE.