July 30, 2014 – God, it’s been a long time. Why is that a familiar refrain with me regarding the frequency and consistency of website blog updates in my time? I could cowardly hide behind any number of reasons – my old age/general luddite-ness (what’s a “snap chat?”), poor internet connections, a ton of travel, racing below expectations, and thus a bit too down to write about it, or just plain old I didn’t think I had anything interesting to say – but that would probably be stretching it.

Not the fact that I don’t have much to say, but perhaps more along the lines of what I have to say may not be interesting… I digress… Either way, it’s late July… 2014. The last update was back in October of 2013. As the adage goes, “my record speaks for itself.” There will be no promises this year, no “weekly blog goals,” or the like. Instead, it will be more like those flowers your boyfriend/husband gives you randomly; impossible to predict, perhaps a little too infrequent for your liking, but heartfelt and exciting when it happens nonetheless.

To begin, I’ll breeze through the 2013-2014 season. Those of you who read this already know what happened and odds are you’ve spoken to me personally with regards to it (I know the extent of my “reach”). In a word it could be summed up as: disappointing. There were some highlights – most notably the 2^nd place finish in Oberhof at the Tour de Ski when Alex and I went 1-2 for the first time in Canadian men’s World Cup cross country ski history (that’s a mouthful). That was more than cool.

Then, you all know how the Olympics went for our whole team. No need to beat a horse that has already been processed into glue – so I’ll just say, “yeah, that happened.” We are all motivated, (hopefully) learned from our mistakes, and have made some changes this season moving forward to get back to where we belong/expect as a team – international success.

So with that out of the way, I am happy to report that this spring has been exciting on a few fronts. I will really blast through some of the highlights in the most boring and predictable way possible: chronological order.

Spring 2014
It was a big one. Not the actual spring itself, instead the “life monuments” that occurred. In bullet point form this is what went down.

– Dream trip realized to Nepal with Kristin and a group from “the North Face” for some trekking and climbing
– Made it to the summit of “Mera Peak” a 6,476m mountain with spectacular views. * side note: above 6,000m you body seems to feel like total ass.
– Asked Kristin to marry me near above stated summit – taking advantage of her hypoxic state. She said yes, we both cried a bit, then had some rock-hard frozen Freia chocolate in celebration. The ring didn’t get stolen or lost – so in addition to the “yes” answer the verdict was all positive.
– Made it safely down, then Kristin got quite sick – and really, really toughed out some miserable days of climbing and trekking under major stomach troubles. *side note: not sure if this was an adverse reaction to her realizing she indeed said yes to spend her life with me…  I blame the bug she caught. Perhaps best not to think about it.
– We cut our trip a couple days short and I headed back to Canada for the next bit of exciting news
– I got to move into my very own house! I had bought a half duplex in Canmore last fall, but it was right before traveling for the racing season, so I did not move in until I returned from Nepal in late April.

Life lesson(s):
– My friends are fantastic.
– Moving multiple times in the short span of 1.5 years is not recommended for awesomeness.
– Having my own place again is a fantastic feeling.
– Painting takes longer (I feel) than it should
– I wish I had the man-skills of my dad, or at least I wish that my dad didn’t live 3,000+ kilometers away (in Canmore, as a ski racer, you aren’t getting a “new house” let’s just put it that way).

So – in conclusion spring of 2014 was big, exciting, energy giving, awesome, busy and a great way to kick off the next season – which while we will have to wait some years before any Olympic-redemption, the next best thing  – ie. The World Championships (this year in Falun, SWE) are on deck and we are in two words: stoked/motivated.

Professionally speaking – I come back to that one “change” that was made this spring. The hiring of a new coach – Tor Arne Hetland, or TA as the nomenclature will be known as hence forth – a Norwegian ex super-boss (Olympic champion, World Champion, Sprint Cup winner, Top 3 Overall etc…), and ex coach of both Germany and Switzerland.

He has been a great addition to our team – great guy (so far, haha), and works really well (again, so far) with our current coaching staff (Justin and Louis). We’ve changed our philosophy slightly moving forward – but I’m trying to keep this somewhat digestible, so let’s just say athletes are happy and from an athlete’s perspective coaches seem to be happy (on the World Cup Team level).

Camp-wise this year to date we’ve had two great ones.

1)   Sunshine/Canmore in mid-May
– The skiing was stellar
– A bit weird not heading down to Bend, and I must admit I am not a super fan of the “at home training camp” as you aren’t really in a training camp environment living at home, but the conditions were great up at Sunshine and with our budget being cut somewhat dramatically – it was a great option
– Cool to get to know TA and work with him a bit

2)   Bend/Canmore in late June – early July
– Awesome training camp down in Justin’s hood – Bend, OR for the first 10 days of that camp
– I love Bend. It’s a fantastic place for a training camp. Lots of great roads for rollerskiing, super trail running options, nice town, cool scene.
– It was a really cool camp in that both the CNEPH (Quebec training centre) and NTDC (Thunder Bay training centre) came down to join our National Team. To see the enthusiasm of the next generation of racers and to have their coaches’ work hand-in-hand with the National Team coaches is a structure which I think will lead to dramatic improvements. Bend is not close to Mont Ste. Anne or Thunder Bay – so I want to say thank you to Louis Bouchard, Timo Puiras and all the athletes from their respective Training Centre’s for making the trip.

Moving along with this “too wordy, hard to follow, long overdue diatribe,” let’s talk about recently.

After the training camp ended on July 7^th, I had some chill days at home in Canmore before flying over to Oslo, NOR to be with my fiancé (isn’t that word so weird/awful?) and spend some weeks in Norway. This trip marked my first-ever trip to Europe in the summer, and I must say these last 18 days that I’ve been here have been fantastic. I love it.

Here are some first-impressions of a Norwegian summer.

1)   I always knew that Norwegians loved sun. BUT – to see just how much they love sun, come here in summer. Every park, grassy area, beach, rocks – essentially any space with direct access to sunrays – there are people scantily clad and getting some Vit. D. Wow. A synonym for Norwegians in the summer could be as simple as: Tanning.

2)   The produce and food in general in the summer here in Norway is awesome. I hate to admit it (because they don’t need more encouragement), but their strawberries are the best I’ve tasted. Just don’t tell Kristin.

3)   Oslo rules. It rules in the winter too, but in the summer – wow. It’s so sweet. Great training, great rollerskiing actually (I know right?!), running, and in 5km of town-biking you are swimming in +21 degree water. For a big (ok, not big, but by Norwegian standards) city – it’s paradise. If only it had mountains too…

4)   I have never eaten so much brown cheese

5)   The coffee scene in Oslo is awesome. If you come here – make sure you hit up “Java” in St. Hans Hagen (neighborhood) or Tim Wendelboe in Grünerløkka (neighborhood)

6)   I have been crushing big days of training but when fueled by kanelbulle, it’s nothing

7)   Everybody coming to Norway in the summer has to check out the West Coast. Wow. Just look at the photos below. Real mountains. Fjords. Unreal.

8)   Yes – it’s expensive in Norway. For a Canadian, mind-blowingly so. Best not to think about it.

9)   I don’t know if this is normal July weather, but it’s been between 25-33 Celsius and sunny since I’ve been here. Tanners (recall: that a synonym for Norwegians) everywhere are psyched.

10)  It’s been a blast, I’ve loved meeting some more of Kristin’s crew, traveling around the country a bit, in short – I’ve had a wonderful time

So, with that, consider yourselves up-to-date! I now have a week left in Norway before flying down to the Eastern USA for a training camp in Stratton, VT with the World Cup Team that begins on August 4^th. I am looking forward to it and as summer ticks by I feel really good about the training and preparations I’ve been doing.

Up next are some rollerski races in Western Norway – the BlinkFestival – starting with my white whale: an uphill skate race on Thursday up the fabled Lysebotn Opp – a real bastard of a climb. Wish me luck. If Kristin beats me I owe her dinner. Which is Norway is like ½ the value of my house in Canmore.

That’s the news of sorts – check back later and Happy summer to all.

Ha Det.

Devon.

July 25, 2014 – Ready for the epic adventure of the 2015 Swix American Birkebeiner? Here’s the latest update: Register by July 31 and SAVE $15 on your registration for the American Birkebeiner 50/54K, Kortelopet 23K, or Prince Haakon 12K.

There is a total cap of 10,300 for all three events. Currently, 5,789 skiers are registered, which is well ahead of this time last year. There will be a major bump to this number after July 31.

Last year waves started to close in September, and the Birkie and Korte filled and then closed on October 8. Make sure you get your spot at the starting line of your next (or first!) Birkie adventure! And, don’t forget to renew your Birkie Foundation membership when you register for your event!

Get complete event details and REGISTER now here.

July 23, 2014 (Ottawa, ON) – The nation’s top biathletes loaded up its support as they begin their new journey towards the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, by welcoming six partners to the team’s pool of product sponsors, Biathlon Canada announced on Wednesday.

Lapua and Kama, who have been with Biathlon Canada over the last two Olympic quadrennials, have reinforced their commitment to Biathlon Canada until 2018.  Icebreaker merino, who has been with the national program for two years, also signed on for another year, while a trio of wax companies – HWK-Kronbichler, Holmenkol AG, and Swix will be the official wax suppliers.

“Biathletes require access to an endless list of resources in order to achieve excellence on the international stage, and some of the most basic needs – wax, ammunition, and headgear – is often most important,” said Joanne Thomson, executive director, Biathlon Canada. “We are thrilled to begin our new Olympic journey with these highly-respectable companies who deliver the products that will make a difference for our athletes.”

Kama has signed a four-year deal as the national team’s official headwear supplier, while Lapua has also hopped on board to supply 70,000 rounds of race and training ammunition for three years, and 85,000 rounds of ammunition for the Olympic season. Each of the three highly regarded wax companies have signed four-year deals of their own to work with the nation’s best biathletes. Icebreaker merino will extend its support into the 2015 season by supplying long underwear and base training layer clothing for the athletes and staff connected to the National A and B training squads.

As an official supplier, Biathlon Canada will be showcasing each of the company logos on its web site, and will wear the Kama, Lapua patches on their performance wear during the World Cup season this year.

Biathlon Canada is the governing body for biathlon in the country, and oversees the IBU Cup, World Cup, Canadian Championships, Eastern and Western Canadian Championships, and North American Cups held in Canada. With the support of its valued corporate partners – Millennium Geomatics Ltd., iON Worldwide, Kama, Roeckl Sports, Lapua, USANA, Nordic Marksman Inc, and Icebreaker – along with the Government of Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee and Own the Podium, Biathlon Canada’s mandate is to provide national level programs for the continuous development of biathlon athletes from the grassroots to the elite level.

For more information on Biathlon Canada, please visit us here.

July 21, 2014 (Anchorage, Alaska) – The US XC Ski Team is in Alaska this year for their second training camp opting for Eagle Glacier instead of the Snow Farm in New Zealand this year to ease up on travel time and team budgets while utilizing the great facilities at Eagle and as Andy Newell quipped “…hammer on our friends at APU.”

The women held their traditional NAWTA (North American Women’s Training Alliance) camp with a week of dryland training followed by a week on the glacier. When the US men arrived the women left town (ahem)… we asked Newell about that in the our interview with him (link below) and found out that he did his first-ever US XC Ski Team camp on Eagle Glacier back in 2001 with Justin Wadsworth.

We also caught up with Noah “The Hoff” Hoffman for some feedback on his training, his shoulder and his focus on the 2015 season.  Plus we noticed the women cooked up a storm on the Glacier and we’re excited to see what the men’s team comes up with… more photos below

Interview w/Andy Newell

Interview w/Noah Hoffman

July 18, 2014 (Berlin, Germany) – Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle, an Olympic biathlete and two-time Olympic cross-country skiing champion, is now serving a two-year ban for failing a drug test at the Sochi 2014 Olympics reports BBC.

On Feb. 21 she testing positive for the stimulant methylhexanamine following tests after the women’s biathlon mass start race on Feb. 17, becoming the first doping case of the 2014 Olympics. Her two-year ban will expire on Feb. 17, 2016.

Sachenbacher-Stehle, 33, won gold medals in the team sprint at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and 4x5K relay at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. She won silver medals in Salt Lake, Vancouver and at the 2006 Turin Games. The German star switched to biathlon from cross-country skiing in the 2012-13 season and did not win any medals at Sochi.

At the time, Sachenbacher-Stehle described the experience of testing positive as “a nightmare,” denied ever knowingly taking banned substances and suggested a nutritional supplement caused her positive test. But a recent statement by the International Biathlon Union said that the judgment was “not contested by the athlete.”

BBC here www.bbc.com/sport/0/winter-sports/28338337

July 17, 2014 Oro-Medonte, ON) – The best mountain bikers in the Americas will be chasing down gold as they fly down the Boneshaker, go on a Coffee Run and do the Grunt Climb at Hardwood Ski and Bike in the summer of 2015.

Known at Games time as Hardwood Mountain Bike Park, the venue will test 45 top male and female riders competing at the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games with a brand-new, adrenalin-pumping race course currently under construction.

The run features a challenging mix of uphill and downhill terrain along with highly technical sections, such as a white-knuckle rocky descent known as the Boneshaker. Over its four- to five-kilometre length, riders will tackle new and existing features such as Sidewinder, Sydor Slider, JP’s Nemesis, Big Z and Doug’s Hill.

“For more than three decades, Canada’s best mountain bikers have tested their mettle at Hardwood Ski and Bike,” said Saäd Rafi, chief executive officer of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015). “In 2015, the facility and Oro-Medonte will make their international Games debut when the best riders in the region are crowned Pan Am champions here.”

Mountain biking made its Pan American Games debut in Mar del Plata, Argentina, in 1995. Since then, Canada has earned seven medals in the sport, including three gold. Only the BMX events are newer to the Pan Am cycling program, which has been part of the sport schedule since 1951.

At the Guadalajara 2011 Pan Am Games, Canada’s Max Plaxton won silver, while Amanda Sin of Collingwood, ON, captured bronze. Canada’s last gold was won by Catharine Pendrel at the Rio 2007 Pan Am Games. All medallists are still competing on the world stage.

“I’m looking forward to competing here at home in front of my friends and family and this time taking gold at the Pan Am Games!” said Trenton, Ontario’s Derek Zandstra, the current Canadian mountain bike cross-country champion and World Cup racer vying for a spot on the Pan Am Games and Olympic Games mountain bike team. “It means a lot to homegrown riders like me. We can’t wait to hit the trails and race against the best the Americas and Caribbean have to offer.”

The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport), added: “Canada is always a serious medal contender in mountain biking at the Pan Am Games, and we look forward to seeing our athletes excel on home soil next summer. Our Government is a proud supporter of the Games, and our investment will result in lasting legacies for Canadian athletes for many years to come.”

As the sole Ontario facility with a Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)-rated race course, Hardwood Ski and Bike has previously hosted Canada Cup and Ontario Cup events, as well as national championships.
>From today to July 20, the venue will also host the 2014 Canadian XCO/XCE Mountain Bike Championships, one of 40-plus national and international sport test events the Organizing Committee is bringing to Ontario over the next 12 months. The competition will feature some of Canada’s best in the sport as well as riders from every level, with ages ranging from five to 60.

“Hosting the 2015 Games will bring long-lasting benefits to all in Ontario,” said Michael Coteau, Minister Responsible for the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games. “Not only will athletes have the opportunity to compete at the highest level of their sport on home soil, future generations of athletes will also enjoy world-class facilities like the Hardwood Mountain Bike Park.”

Oro-Medonte Mayor Harry Hughes added: “We are pleased that the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee has recognized Hardwood Ski and Bike as a world-class mountain biking venue. Our township has a deep connection with mountain biking and has long been a big supporter of our Canadian athletes. We look forward to celebrating these athletes from the moment they arrive here to compete to when they step on the podium.”

In order for mountain bikers to compete at their best, the Games will have satellite accommodation for athletes, located nearby at Horseshoe Valley Resort in Barrie. This village is in addition to the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletes’ Village, located in downtown Toronto.

July 16, 2014 – For the first time, Almaty (KAZ) will host the world’s best Nordic skiers at the FIS Junior & U23 Nordic World Ski Championships, which will take place in February next year.

July 15, 2014 (Quebec City, QC) – We’re pleased to announce that the website for the Winter World Masters Games 2015 in Quebec is now available online. You will find information about the sports, venues and accommodation etc. here.

Registration will open soon, but at least you can start booking your travel arrangements.

Looking forward to seeing you all in Quebec next year!

July 10, 2014 – Check out our latest interview with USA’s Holly Brooks as she talks about her recent win at the Mount Marathon Race, the upcoming NAWTA – North American Women’s Training Alliance – in Alaska, and her plans to tackle the FIS Marathon Cup this season as she is no longer part of the US Ski Team – race results here.

Interview w/Holly Brooks

July 09, 2014 (Park City, Utah) – Women’s Ski Jumping USA is excited to announce Melissa Brooke as the foundation’s new Executive Director. Brooke, of Park City, Utah, will support the top-ranked Visa Women’s Ski Jumping Team and the new Fly Girls Athlete Development Program as the foundation continues to grow and flourish thanks to the success and debut of women’s ski jumping in the Olympic Winter Games.

Melissa brings over 20 years of corporate communications, marketing and non-profit leadership experience to WSJ-USA. After spending the past few years as director of communications for a Fortune 500 company based in Baltimore, she recently returned to her western roots, now residing in Park City with her husband and two children.

“I am incredibly honored to help lead WSJ-USA into its next exciting chapter. This team has shown incredible tenacity and talent over the last several years, facing some pretty big obstacles on and off the hill while proving themselves as world-class athletes.” Brooke said. “Now we have the opportunity to expand our organization, providing determined young girls across the nation with the opportunity to soar to new heights.”

Brooke replaces Robbie Beck, of Park City, who was brought in two years ago to help lead WSJ-USA through the critical Olympic-debut period. Beck resigned in June and is working on new projects.

“Robbie has been invaluable to the organization and we’re grateful for her excellent service,” said Deedee Corradini, WSJ-USA president. “The next four years promise to be some of the most exciting in our team’s history and we’re thrilled to see Melissa take the reins and lead WSJ-USA into the future.”

Brooke and Alan Alborn, head coach and athletic program manager, will concentrate efforts on maintaining the excellent National Team program and growing the newly launched Fly Girls initiative, which aims to recruit more young girls into ski jumping, help identify and mentor rising stars in the sport, and continue to advocate for women in sports.

Brooke also will be working closely with existing sponsors and donors to the team as well as ramping up efforts to attract new supporters.

“We have one of the all-time most inspiring Olympic stories to share and we’re looking to align with companies and individuals who believe in our athletes and our values,” Brooke said.

WSJ-USA’s new chapter kicks off July 17 as part of the foundation’s gala from 6-9 pm at the Montage Deer Valley. For info and tickets, visit here.

“Our annual fundraiser is critical in the success of our athletes. We’ve already raised $25,000 online toward our overall event goal of $100,000, but to reach that we need the community to join us on July 17,” Brooke said.

July 08, 2014 (Colorado Springs, CO) – U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) coach Erik Flora (Anchorage) was recognized as the U.S. Olympic Committee’s 2013 National Coach of the Year. He is the fourth USSA coach to earn the top coaching honor since the USOC debuted the award in 1996. Flora was honored for his work with elite cross country skiers on the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team, including Kikkan Randall (Anchorage), who won the 2013 FIS World Cup and team sprint gold at World Championships. Read more from USSA…

As head coach for APU Nordic, Flora is integrated into the U.S. Ski Team coaching staff where club coaches play an important role in athlete success.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The U.S. Olympic Committee named Erik Flora (Anchorage) as 2013 National Coach of the Year.
• He is the fourth U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association coach to earn the top honor since the award began in 1996 – more than any other sport.
• Flora serves as head coach for the highly regarded Alaska Pacific University Nordic program, a two-time winner of the USSA’s Cross Country Club of the Year.
• As head coach of the Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Club, Flora directed four cross country athletes from the 13-member U.S. Ski Team who competed at the 2013 World Championships, including 2013 team sprint world champion Kikkan Randall (Anchorage).
• The win marked the first World Championship cross country gold medal for the U.S. Ski Team and the first medal of any color in a team event.
• Under Flora’s guidance, the U.S. women’s cross country team also earned its first relay podium finish in World Cup history and the first top-three individual ranking in the overall World Cup standings.
• In addition to Randall, Flora aided other top U.S. skiers to breakthrough results in 2013, including Holly Brooks (Anchorage), Sadie Bjorsen (Winthrop, WA), Erik Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA) and overall SuperTour champion Rosie Brennan (Park City, UT). Randall and Brooks teamed up to help the U.S. women’s cross country team earn its first relay podium finish in world cup history and Randall earned the first ever top-three individual ranking in the overall world cup standings for the U.S.
• Past USSA winners include snowboarding coaches Pete del’Giudice, Bud Keene and Ricky Bower.
• In other USOC awards, Adam Bleakney (Paralympic track & field; Champaign, IL) took home Paralympic National Coach of the Year honors. Additionally, Kathleen Johnston (triathlon; Nashville, TN) was named Developmental Coach of the Year, Bienvenido “Benny” Roman (boxing; Brooklyn, NY) was selected Volunteer Coach of the Year and Gordon Uehling III (tennis; Alpine, NJ) earned the Doc Councilman Science Award.
• National Governing Bodies selected their 2013 Coaches of the Year as part of the USOC Coach of the Year Recognition Program. A panel of coaching and sport education professionals selected three national finalists in each category.

QUOTES

Alan Ashley, USOC Chief of Sport Performance
It’s an honor to recognize these coaches for their impact on countless athletes around the country. Their tireless efforts and dedication to helping athletes strive for excellence is an inspiration to all.

Chris Grover, Head Cross Country Coach, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.
Erik has worked hard to build what is arguably the strongest club in the nation focused on the development of elite cross-country ski racers. HIs enthusiasm for ski racing is evident when you meet him and the athletes in the APU program find it contagious. Erik has a fantastic way of motivating the athletes and getting them out the door training on yet another rainy, windy, cold Anchorage, Alaska morning. He gives the athletes confidence to know that the work they need to do on a daily basis is achievable, and thereby builds a foundation for future hard work and racing success.

Luke Bodensteiner, Executive Vice President, Athletics, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association
As a USSA club coach, Erik has played a significant role in the success of our U.S. Cross Country Ski Team. Clubs like APU Nordic are vital in our athletic pipeline. The integration of club coaches into our elite national teams in cross country has been key to our growing success in cross country. Coaches like Erik Flora make a difference for athletes and as an organization we are proud to have had four of our coaches earn this honor from the USOC over time.

All-Time USOC National Coach of the Year Award Recipients
The National Coach of the Year is presented to a coach of an elite-level club, collegiate or national-level team, or the coach of an elite athlete who competes at the highest level of his/her sport.

1996          Tara VanDerveer, U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Coach

1997          Frank Carroll, Olympic Figure Skating Coach, Coach of Michelle Kwan

1998          Ben Smith, U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Coach

1999          Chris Carmichael, Cycling Coach, Coach of Lance Armstrong

2000          Richard Quick, U.S. Olympic Women’s Swimming Coach

2001-02    Pete del’Giudice, U.S. Snowboarding Coach

2003          Lloyd Woodhouse, USA Shooting National Team Coach

2004          Mike Candrea, USA Softball Women’s National Team Coach

2005          Eddie Reese, USA Swimming Men’s National Team Coach

2006          Bud Keene, U.S. Snowboarding Coach

2007          Guy Baker, USA Water Polo National Team Coach

2008          Hugh McCutcheon, USA Men’s Volleyball National Team Coach

2009          Bob Bradley, U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team Coach

2010          Brian Shimer, U.S. Men’s Bobsled Head Coach

2011          Rick Bower, U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Coach

2012          Adam Krikorian, U.S. Women’s National Water Polo Team Coach

2013          Erik Flora, U.S. Olympic Cross Country Skiing Coach

June 29, 2014 – It is with deep sadness that Cross Country Canada announces the unexpected passing of Dave Battison, long-time coach and contributor to Cross country Canada. CCC extends condolences to Dave’s wife Laura, his family, friends, the Strathcona Nordic Ski Club and all of his numerous associates in our ski community.

Dave worked as a professional coach for over 20 years. He started his career in 1991 with the Laurentian Ski Club. He also went on to coach the Laurentian University Nordic team for four years at time when Laurentian Nordic was one of the powerhouses in the country and Laurentian University won several OUAA championships under his coaching.

He took his coaching skills to western Canada, where as Head Coach of the Rocky Mountain Racers from 2001-2004, he garnered 18 national championship medals. From there Dave’s career took him to Vancouver Island where he became Head Coach of the Strathcona Nordics Ski club in Mount Washington from 2005-2014.

Dave has a long list of achievements both at the division and national level both as a coach and wax technician. This included extensive service with the National Ski Team at multiple World Junior Championships held in Germany, Sweden, Norway and France as well as assisting at numerous national junior training camps. In 2009 he was Head Coach of Canada’s Nordic team at the World University Games in China and again in 2013 in Italy. Dave received an NCCP National Coaching – Coach Developer Award sponsored by Investors Group, an award for the development of coaches in the community.

Dave wasn’t a coach without being an athlete first!  He competed as a professional Triathlete, representing Canada three times at the World Ironman Championships in Hawaii.  During those years he also competed in the Canadian Long Course Triathlon (swimming, biking and running) and was the “National Champion”. In the same year he competed in the Penticton Ironman, where he won the “Amateur Champion” in the age group 25 – 29.   After this period of time Dave became a professional Triathlete under various contracts.

Dave inspired many local skiers in so many ways; he was a very keen coach, always willing to help athletes and other coaches. Dave leaves a legacy in Sudbury, Canmore, Mt. Washington and across our country of skiers and friends who today cover all aspects of our ski community including racing, grooming, coaching and officiating.

SkiTrax joins the ski community in extending conclcondolences to Battison’s family and friends.

June 28, 2014 (Salzburg, Austria) – In a move that has perplexed, confused, and angered some key figures, the International Biathlon Union’s (IBU) executive board (EB) has voted to discontinue blood testing at Olympic Winter Games (OWG). At the board’s May 23-25 meeting a relatively obscure notation (I iii) in the minutes states that:

“IBU anti-doping tests during OWG based on the experience of the last two Olympic Winter Game editions for which the IOC has sole testing authority, the IBU EB decided:

In the future the IBU will conduct no own [sic] blood screens at OWG, but assist the IOC with expert advice for their test plan.” No explanation is given in the minutes to justify this decision.

The decision triggered a letter on June 16 from Dr. Jim Carrabre, IBU’s Medical VP and who was absent from that meeting (see letter below). Emailed to some 109 recipients in the biathlon world, the letter details Carrabre’s concerns, namely:

– The matter was not on the agenda
– The matter was not discussed with Carrabre prior to the meeting although he considers it to be an area under his responsibility
– The matter was not discussed with Carrabre after the meeting
– Carrabre considers the decision “a major step backwards in our fight against doping”

SkiTrax tried to reach Carrabre who wrote back to say that he is on holidays with limited Internet access. But it is evident that he is not the only one asking questions about the IBU decision.

“I am mystified as to why they would not continue to do the blood testing/screening at the Olympics since we do it at all the World Cups and World Championships,” remarked Max Cobb President & CEO of the US Biathlon Association.

“The IBU has a blood profiling program, the so called blood passport, so it makes sense to keep that part of the testing in the hands of the IBU since it is only useful if you can look back over months and years to detect abnormalities in an athlete’s blood that could be an indicator of doping.  Without the history, I am not sure the blood tests themselves would tell you all that much.”

According to Chris Lindsay, Biathlon Canada’s High Performance Director, “The exact nature of the vote at the last Executive Board meeting is unclear. They did vote to stop doing some sort of blood testing but the minutes of the meetings are not clear. What is clear is that the IBU Medical Director was not consulted about this – nor was the motion on the pre-meeting agenda.

“Having a strong anti-doping program is essential to protecting the integrity of the sport. Any decision that jeopardizes the opportunity for fair playing conditions must be weighed very carefully,” he added.

Meeting notes show that only seven of the ten board members were present. Apart from Carrabre’s absence, Nami Kim of South Korea was absent while Vaclav Firtuk passed away on March 29 and a replacement has not yet been named. The May meeting took place in the ski resort of Going, about 75 minutes southwest of Salzburg where the IBU is headquartered.

SkiTrax is still waiting to hear back from IBU president, Anders Besseberg of Norway. It should be noted that Carrabre is running for presidency of the IBU, trying to replace Besseberg.

June 26, 2014 THE 40TH Anniversary – Yes, it was 40 years ago this year that the DDR roller board made it’s debut in the USA – at least a copy did, in my cellar on Tiger Town Rd. We spied it when we were doing an early season on-snow camp in Kiruna, Sweden (late Oct). Actually a minimal snow camp with 2-3 cm of snow that we broomed together on a pond into a 300-400 metre loop. No hills, so it was back to the weight room, where we found a roller board the East Germans had left behind from a previous camp. If you don’t have ONE of these, get going, and put it where you will trip over it – it is the finishing touch to all weight workouts.

From Noah Hoffman’s blog – I finished the session with 5 by 15 pulls on the roller board. For the first time ever, I maxed my roller board out on the highest level. I’m psyched that I’m so much stronger than last summer when I was recovering from shoulder surgery, but I’m not sure how I can make the roller board steeper as I continue to progress.

The rest of the day was relaxing. I worked on some different projects and took it easy.

PS…Noah had a suggestion to attach a bungee cord to the sled to increase the resistance.

Exel Ski Poles – If you are doing new poles this year, Exel – the original glass poles – that have been missing here in the USA for the past few years are now back in the USA and Canada. They have a new concept called X-Curve – very interesting here.

V2 Roller Skis – big focus on an all new ski (see below)… shaft has a very snow ski like ride. Check the web site in 2 weeks…www.jenex.com

Sophie on Climate – here.

Holly Brooks on Holly – Breaking the Silence……! Many of you have probably noticed, I’ve taken a sabbatical from my blog. Apparently that sabbatical and resulting silence was more needed than I previously thought. I’ve laid in bed countless nights composing posts in my head but unfortunately, they never exist on the screen in the morning. What have I been up to…? Here are some quick Q&A’s just to get something out into virtual life. I have to start somewhere, right?

What have you been up to the past 2 months?
Training (in AK!) – public outreach projects in AK – and helping build a multi-generation cabin in Hope, AK. I’ve been on a handful of fun, small adventures with my husband and it’s nice to feel pseudo-normal again. I’ve enjoyed drinking coffee and reading the paper edition of the morning newspaper at my own kitchen table!

Read more of Holly’s blog here.

Is this the end of  tread mill testing? It’s not the making of #StarWarsVII … only a VO2max test. Check out more on Maurice Manificat…here.

Bowdoin College Seeks Assistant Nordic Ski Coach…read more here.

NENSA Eastern Regional Elite Group Heads to Lake Placid – The Eastern Regional Elite Group Invitational Camp (REG) is NENSA’s premier summer camp and will feature USST staff as well as New England’s top coaches. Next week some of the fastest juniors in the east will descend upon the Adirondacks and live the life of a professional athlete for six days – read more here.

Talk To You Soon!

June 23, 2014 (Oroslavje, Croatia) – Oroslavje, Croatia was the host of this year’s first FIS Rollerski World Cup. A total of 70 competitors from 10 countries (FRA, GER, ITA, SLO, RUS, MKD, BIH, SRB, MNE, CRO) competed in uphill, individual and sprint competitions.

Russia Dominates on Day One

Marcus Johansson of Sweden won the 7km season opene competition. Italy’s Simone Paredi narrowly took second following a photo-finish with Johansson at the line as third place went to Ivan Solodov (RUS).

Doubly victory in the women’s category went to Russia as Ksenia Konokhova topped the podium over Anna Grushina. Third place went to the host nation’s Nina Broznić from Croatia.

Andrey Nischakov (RUS) took the victory in the junior men’s category ahead of Swedish representative Alfred Buskqvist (SWE) with Russia’s Vadim Andreev landing third on the podium.

Russian domination was confirmed when Maria Kondratenko won the junior women’s race with compatriot’s Alena Lipatova in second, and Tatiana Chvanonva in third.

Day 2 Sprint Competitions

For the ninth year in a row the FIS Rollerski World Cup opener in Oroslavje ended with a sprint competition.

As in previous years, the battle for the final victory was between Italy and Russia, with Russians prevailing, and prooving their domination in the rollerski sport. In the senior category Victor Karasev was victorious over Alessio Berlanda (ITA).

In the senior ladies category Anastazia Voronina won ahead of Elisa Fulcheri (ITA) and Nina Broznic (CRO).

Victory in Junior men’s category went to Vitaly Smirnov while Lisa Bolzan won the Junior women’s race.

Complete results.

June 22, 2014 – The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) would like to alert the Canadian sport community that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has made amendments to Section S.2.1 of the 2014 Prohibited List.

Effective September 1, 2014, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) activators xenon and argon will be prohibited in and out of competition. For more information on the amendment, visit playtrue.wada-ama.org/news/wada-amends-section-s-2-1-of-2014-prohibited-list.

For the revised 2014 Prohibited List, visit www.wada-ama.org/en/Science-Medicine/Prohibited-List.

Athletes are responsible for any prohibited substances that may be found in their sample. The CCES encourages athletes to verify the status of their medications using the following CCES resources:

• Global DRO (www.globaldro.com)
• CCES Substance Classification Booklet (www.cces.ca/en/substance)
• Email substances@cces.ca
• Call the CCES Info Line at 1-800-672-7775

For prescribed substances that require a medical exemption, athletes subject to doping control should consult the CCES or their international federation to get complete information on the application process.

• The CCES Medical Exemption Wizard (www.cces.ca/mewizard) can help athletes find out if they need to apply in advance for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) or be prepared for a medical review following doping control. The Wizard describes where and when to submit an application, and what to include in the medical file.
• Email tue-aut@cces.ca

The CCES is an independent, national, not-for profit organization with a responsibility to administer the CADP. Under the CADP rules, the CCES announces publicly every anti-doping rule violation. We recognize that true sport can make a great difference for individuals, communities and our country. We are committed to working collaboratively to activate a values-based and principle-driven sport system; protecting the integrity of sport from the negative forces of doping and other unethical threats; and advocating for sport that is fair, safe and open to everyone.

June 21, 2014 (Australia – New Zealand) – Temperatures are dropping and the ski fields in Australia and New Zealand will soon be opening. In Australia cross-country skiing club races begin at the start of July, with all FIS competitions in AUS and NZL taking place in August. Any elite international racers planning to compete in FIS races in the southern hemisphere should note that FIS registration for the 2014/2015 season is now due.

Athletes wishing to be on the 1st FIS points list for the season and to have their points count for southern hemsphere races should ensure that their FIS registration is processed by their National Ski Federation and sent to FIS before June 30.

The schedule for the FIS Australia – New Zealand Continental Cup is as follows:

– August 2 – Perisher, AUS – Sprint Classic
– August 3 – Perisher, AUS – 5/10km Freestyle
– August 7 – Snow Farm, NZL – Sprint Freestyle
– August 9 – Snow Farm, NZL – 5/10km Freestyle
– August 10 – Snow Farm, NZL – 10/15km C Mass Start
– August 16 – Falls Creek, AUS – Sprint Freestyle
– August 17 – Falls Creek, AUS – 10/15km Classic
– August 23 – Falls Creek, AUS – Kangaroo Hoppet 42km Freestyle (Worldloppet)

Link to all race on FIS site here.

International athletes seeking additional information on racing in Australia should contact Finn Marsland, Ski & Snowboard Australia High Performance Manager, via email at finn.marsland@gmail.com

June 20, 2014 (Canmore, AB) – Cross Country Canada (CCC) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) last weekend in Canmore amidst controversy as former president, Richard Lemoine, resigned only days before as a result of clashes with the association’s executive director, Davin MacIntosh. The essence of their dispute revolved around the role of the Board of Directors and by the end of the weekend, Jamie Coatsworth, was acclaimed to take over Lemoine’s job.

This transition follows difficult times for the Canadian camp with dismal results at Sochi 2014, a floundering women’s program and  funding slashed by 25%. Waxing problems plagued the team in Sochi and only Alex Harvey had notable results this season as Devon Kershaw struggled to deliver only one podium performance at the Tour de Ski. In short, things seem to have been going downhill for the team since their heady days of 14 medals in 2011/12 and Kershaw’s record-setting second place overall in the men’s World Cup ranking.

The end of this season also marks the beginning of a new quadrennial, and amidst rumours of big changes pending on the National team, there were leaked stories including Harvey suggesting he may go it alone. In early May it was finally announced that Head Coach Justin Wadsworth would assume a new role as team leader and accomplished Norwegian skier and coach, Tor-Arne Hetland, had been hired to manage affairs in Europe. Wadsworth’s new role also includes aligning all National Team Development Centres with the National team’s program to create an improved development pipeline and better results overall.

We caught up with Lemoine, who attended CCC’s AGM, explaining that he was there to “protect his reputation” and is still going to be very much involved in the sport [as a voting member]. “I am a proponent of running CCC like a business. We had problems with our waxing in Sochi – we have hired a new wax specialist but it appears that we are still keeping the same guy from Sochi. In my opinion, CCC has a culture of complacency – yet we publicly say we have a culture of excellence. But you can only have a culture of excellence when you strive to have the best people on board. Sometimes you have to take someone out back and shoot ‘em [figuratively speaking]. You have to fire them. In a nutshell, people need to be held accountable. When you do that, it smartens everyone else up.”

Lemoine also explained that his dispute with MacIntosh was, “…a fundamental difference of understandings of what a Board is supposed to do. I have been involved with other sports, for instance with sailing, that has a voting structure where the majority of the votes are held by clubs [in terms of voting at AGMs – versus CCC where only the provincial / territorial chairs are allowed to vote]. At CCC, the power is much more concentrated – the Executive Director appears to have unfettered power. I also believe that at the end of the day the Board should be held accountable for the decisions of the organization and therefore needs to be able to influence the decisions of management.”

SkiTrax contacted MacIntosh for his comments as well but we did not hear back. Overall, Lemoine who has been heavily involved with the sport since 1999 and was president since 2012, seems philosophical about the recent events.

“It only takes 10 people to make decisions here. The executive director appealed directly to them. Maybe they decided that it is easier to change presidents than it is to change executive directors. I’m only a volunteer so I stepped aside. But I will still be involved with skiing in Canada [in other ways],” he continued.

“I actually had a good conversation with Davin at the opening of the AGM over wine and cheese. I don’t take things like this personally and I think he also understood that it’s not personal. In many ways the organization is going the right way. I am disappointed to have retired from the presidency when there was more I wanted to accomplish. But I have a real sense of optimism looking at PyeongChang 2018. Let’s move forward,” commented Lemoine who is a chartered accountant dealing with many businesses and feels that associations like CCC should be more business-like in their dealings and process.

“While I’m sorry to exit, I’m glad that Jamie Coatsworth was elected president at the AGM (on June 14) and he would have been the person I picked. Coatsworth has not been as involved as I am, but he is very well-connected,” added Lemoine.

Coatsworth is also a Toronto-area chartered accountant and thus, perhaps it is not surprising that Lemoine supported him in his bid to become president, even if the new guy sides with MacIntosh.

“I don’t want to get into the dispute. Richard and Davin had a disagreement. You can’t have two sets of hands on the steering wheel,” commented Coatsworth. “The Board members are like shareholders – they set policy in deciding what’s best for the organization. The timing of the discord [just before an election] made it easy for Richard to step down.”

So was Coatsworth the compromise candidate? “Richard told me I was his choice to replace him except that he wasn’t expecting me to take over so soon! But no, I don’t think of myself as the compromise candidate,” he continued.

Coatsworth also revealed that he is not technically the President of CCC any longer as his title changed at the AGM – he now sits as the Board’s Chairman while the Executive Director is now called the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

“What we need is a fresh look, to move forward. I’ll be working with Davin. A few years ago, CCC was much smaller and the Board then had a bigger role but we must avoid crossover. The BOD sets policy while management executes these policies. I expect to have regular communications with Davin and make him aware of what the Board wants; otherwise the Board will deal with appropriate things.

“The people on the Board will often be involved with the operational committee who may be looking for additional advice. Board members can give advice to CCC staff, but otherwise, we don’t step in [to give instructions],” added Coatsworth.

But while the question of the Board’s composition and role might now be resolved, other problems loom large.

Own the Podium (OTP) recently announced a 25% funding cut to CCC yet Lemoine expected worse. “Given the poor performance at Sochi we did not suffer as much as I had feared. OTP is looking at return on investments (ROI), something I am very familiar with as an accountant.” Lemoine points out that the cuts averaged 19% across the board for all winter sports.

He and Coatsworth seem to be singing the same tune here and the new Chairman put it this way, “We have to make do with what we’ve got. There are scarce resources. We could happily spend double our budget. We spend a great deal of time with our national development program and with coaching and do quite a bit, including supporting elite skiers. We also have to ask where our next group of World Cup skiers will be coming from and how do we get them to be competitive?

“OTP does not support the development side and Sport Canada funding is directed more towards mass events, so we are left with limited funding for development and training. There are up and comers like Jess Cockney (who debuted for Canada at Sochi 2014) who are part of the next wave from where our [evolving] WC team will emerge. OTP made cuts and we made adjustments. That did not determine the size or composition of the WC team.”

Time will tell if the Canadian camp can regain it’s former stature and develop the next talent pool for its men’s and women’s teams as the next quadrennial period to the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang, Korea, unfolds.

June 12, 2014 – During the 49th FIS Congress in Barcelona (SPA), the Cross-Country Committee presented several proposals. The FIS Cross-Country World Cup calendar 2014/15 was accepted with minor adjustments and confirmed by the FIS Council. In the 2015/16 season, the FIS Cross-Country World Cup will return to Canada for the final period.

Calendars

The FIS Cross-Country World Cup calendar 2014/15 was accepted with minor adjustments and confirmed by the FIS Council. In the 2015/16 season, the FIS Cross-Country World Cup will return to Canada for the final period. The competition programme is being finalised and will be presented at the FIS Technical Meetings in Zurich (SUI) in October.

Snow Guarantee and Control

After the challenging last winter with poor snow conditions at some of the World Cup venues, the snow guarantee and snow control system was revised and updated.

FIS will work closely with the local Organising Committees on its plans for snow production, snow storage and snow transportation. A system for snow reports has been improved and in case there is an emergency situation, an event preparation group will be formed to tackle the challenges. The World Cup rules have been updated to facilitate the substitution of a World Cup event in another country.

Individual Starting Order in Unstable or Difficult Weather & Snow Conditions

In case of critical or unstable weather and/or snow conditions, a standardised individual starting order will be used. The goal is to guarantee the best possible conditions for the top-seeded athletes, while keeping the race interesting for the TV audience.  The 15 best athletes of the seeded group will start in reverse order and the rest of the seeded group will start alternately between them. The overall World Cup leader will start last and the athlete ranked 16th in the seeded group will start first. The number of athletes before and after the seeded group will be decided by the Jury.

Rankings and Trophies

FIS Cross-Country partner Helvetia will support the best U23 ladies and men with CHF 9’999 per gender for the top-ranked U23 athlete in the Overall World Cup ranking. A special ceremony will take place after the last competition of the season.

Ski Exchange

The Cross-Country Committee supported the proposal of limiting the number of ski exchanges in mass start competitions to the maximum of one ski exchange in 30 km ladies and maximum two ski exchanges in men’s 50 km.

False Starts

The proposal by the Sub-Committee for Rules and Control to clarify and update false start rules was accepted. A written reprimand will be given to all false starters (immediately to the first offender). In the case of a second false start by any skier in the same heat, the offender will receive a written reprimand and will be ranked last in the respective heat.

June 10, 2014 (Oslo, Norway) – Swix Sport has announced a three-year partnership with the Norwegian Biathlon Association. “It comes at an exciting time,” said Ulf Bjerknes, CEO of Swix Sport. Swix product developers have already begun working with Norway’s elite athletes to create new, specially adapted biathlon equipment.

“We are pleased to be launching this cooperation with the Norwegian Biathlon Association, which has come about at an exciting time. We have strong women’s and men’s national teams, and many talented athletes who want to take the next step. Norway is also home to many younger, up-and-coming biathletes. Swix will be investing in all levels, from juniors to elite athletes. The 2016 championships at Holmenkollen are an important milestone,” says Ulf Bjerknes, the CEO of Swix Sport.

The national biathlon team’s new racing suit was also presented for the first time today. Swix looks forward to cooperating closely with the Norwegian Biathlon Association and athletes on further product development.

“Our product developers have already begun working with Norway’s elite athletes to create new, specially adapted biathlon equipment. Three examples are the new X1 glove, which Tarjei Bø has helped to develop, the new national team racing suit, and the new X-fit ski pole straps which makes it easier to drop and pick up the poles at the shooting stand. This collaboration will help to improve the performances of both Swix and the athletes, and further innovations are coming,” says Bjerknes.

Tore Bøygard, president of the Norwegian Biathlon Association, believes that the sponsorship agreement will have a positive impact on recruitment and support for biathlon in Norway.

“Swix’s strong position and distribution network in Norway will be an important instrument for attracting attention to the sport and boosting interest among children and young people. Recruitment is vital if we are also to have a world-leading national team in future. The fact that Swix wants to support us in our efforts is fantastic. Major projects are underway, and we have many exciting developments to look forward to,” says the biathlon president.

The biathlon world championships at Holmenkollen, Oslo in 2016 are an important milestone for Norway’s biathlon teams, and the elite athletes have clear targets for the next few seasons. Tore Bøygard also wants to use the championships on home soil to encourage more people to give biathlon a try.

“Biathlon is a popular sport, and has gained a solid foothold in the population. The combination of strong Norwegian results and intensely exciting competition is important. This excitement can also be experienced personally, around the track and at the shooting stand. We hope that the Holmenkollen championships will open the eyes of many more people – particularly children and young people – to the beautiful sport of biathlon,” he says.

The sponsorship agreement between Swix and the Norwegian Biathlon Association will run for four years from today’s date. The agreement primarily relates to clothing for both training and competition, but will also encompass other activities and measures to boost the attractiveness of biathlon across the whole of Norway.

June 9, 2014 – After incredible success at the 2014 Sochi Olympics with 22 medals, Rossignol strengthens an already impressive Nordic Racing roster with the addition of 2014 Olympian, Erik Bjornsen.

“Erik is not only young and hungry to win, but an incredible ambassador to the sport,” said Paul Clark, Rossignol US Nordic Racing Manager. “We are excited to start working with Erik over the course of this next season at both the national and international levels in order to help him reach all of his competitive goals.”

An increased focus on Nordic Racing over the past few seasons has allowed Rossignol to work more closely with athletes and coaches. “Our goal is to provide every athlete with the right equipment to win whether that athlete is already competing on the World Cup circuit or working their way up through the ranks,” said Clark. “Working one‐on‐one with the athletes as they test product allows us to switch things out when they aren’t working and helps validate that every skier is on the fastest equipment.”

“Rossignol’s commitment to Nordic Racing is currently unmatched by way of service and product delivery,” said Bjornsen. “I’m stoked to be working with such a committed group. The products are some of the fastest I’ve ever skied on and the level of support the Rossignol Nordic team delivers gives me confidence I’ll have the competitive edge I need.”

June 08, 2014 (Quebec City, QC) – Biathlon has received official confirmation for the 2015 Winter World Masters Games (WWMG) to be staged in Quebec City from Jan. 31-Feb. 8 next year. The news was contained in an email from the International Masters Games Association (IMGA) this week.

“After a few months of analyzing the costs and feasibility of adding biathlon to the program of the WWMG, I’m happy to inform you that biathlon will be part of the Games,” wrote Samantha Hayward of the IMGA.

The following distances will be offered:
– Individual Men: 5km, 7.5km, 10km, 12.5km
– Individual Women: 7.5km
– Sprint Men: 9km, 6km, 5km
– Sprint Women: 5km
– Relays Men: 3x6km
– Relays Women: 3x5km
The distances will depend on the age categories.

According to Hayward the exact dates of races will be announced when the website is launched “…but without big changes”. The races will take place on the second weekend (Feb 5-8, 2015) and the venue will be the Centre de biathlon Myriam-Bédard, a world-class biathlon range on Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Valcartier, about 20 minutes west of Quebec City – read more here.

The World Masters Games in Quebec City will be the second edition of the WWMG. The IMGA is also planning other international events including the 2015 European Masters Games in Nice, France; 2016 The Americas Masters in Vancouver, Canada; and the 2017 World Masters Games in Auckland, NZ.

May 20, 2014 (Park City, Utah) – he U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) announced that it will nominate its Chairman, W. Dexter Paine, as a candidate for the International Ski Federation (FIS) Council at the 49th International Ski Congress, June 1-6, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. Paine has been chairman of the USSA, the highest elected position in U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, since 2006. He was president of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team Foundation, the fundraising arm of the team, from 2002-2006.

Paine grew up in the state of New Hampshire and has had a life-long passion for snow sports. He is a graduate of Williams College in Massachusetts, where he was a member of the alpine ski team. He has been a USSA voting delegate at several FIS Congresses and is a member of the Executive Committee for the Vail 2015 FIS World Alpine Championships. He has attended many Olympic Winter Games, FIS World Championships and World Cup competitions. Most recently, he was with the U.S. team for 16 days and attended over 20 nordic, alpine, freestyle and snowboarding events at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

In his private life, Paine ?is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Paine & Partners, a New York based ?private equity firm, which invests primarily in the food and agribusiness sectors, a number of which are ?located in Europe. He has homes in New York and Switzerland. Dexter and his wife have three children ?ages 19, 18 and 16 who ski raced.

“It has been a great honor for me to serve as a FIS Council member and Vice President for the past 12 years,” said Bill Marolt, who retired as USSA President and CEO in March, 2014. Marolt has sat on the FIS Council since 2002. “I would like to thank all of my FIS friends for their support and counsel through the years. I look forward to serving as a Council member through the Congress in Barcelona and appreciate the support of Dexter Paine as our Council nominee.”

“I really appreciate the opportunity to be nominated by the USSA for FIS Council and ?look forward to contributing to the continued success of the FIS in the future,” said Paine.”I look forward to seeing everyone at the Congress in Barcelona.”

The election of the FIS Council will take place Friday, June 6 in Barcelona.

Help the Team

The U.S. Ski Team relies solely on the support of the American public. Click here to support the team.

May 19, 2014 – Jonna Sundling is a rising star on the Swedish Cross-Country ski team. She became a double Junior World Champion in Val di Fiemme, Italy winning the sprint and anchoring Swedish relay team to a title at the World Championships.

This spring, the young skier was nominated to Sweden’s Senior A-team and FIS Cross-Country News talked with Sundling about her surprise news and joining Charlotte Kalla and Co. and about the World Championships slated for Falun in 2015.

For the next winter you have been nominated to the A team. Was it surprising for you? 
Jonna Sundling: At first I didn’t believe I could make it all the way up to the A team, so it was a big surprise for me when coach Rikard Grip called me. But now I’m just really excited and it will be very fun to be a part of the Swedish A-team.

What are your expectations in training with experienced skiers? Who do you look forward to train with particularly? Who were your idols growing up?
JS: I think it will be inspiring and I look forward to train with the whole team. While growing up I looked up to the best athletes in the world, the ones who won World Championships for example, so I didn’t just look up to one single skier.

What do you think will be the biggest challenge for you during the summer?
JS: I don’t really know what would be the biggest challenge. But it’s going to be more training and traveling then I am used to, so that will be one of the biggest challenges with joining the A team.

WSC in Falun is the big goal for team Sweden. Are you looking forward to competing in front of the home crowd?
JS: It’s my first year as a senior so I don’t feel so much pressure. But I really hope everything goes fine with my training and all competitions, so I’ll be able to compete in the WSC in Falun this winter. It would be really great to compete in front of my home crowd.

You are a young athlete, what do you do besides skiing? How is it like to combine skiing and studying?
JS: Besides skiing I study social sciences in Lycksele and I also go to ski college there. I am soon about to finish my third year here in Lycksele so I have one year left to go. When I’m not skiing I try to be with my family and friends as much as I can, because I usually don’t have so much time to do so. I think it goes great to combine studying and skiing with the ski college in Lycksele. I feel very comfortable here and the people are very kind and helpful.

Looking ahead to next season.  Where do you start your goals list?
JS: This is my first year as senior so I haven’t really set up any goals. I’m trying to take everything as it comes and maybe set up a few goals later.

May 15, 2014 – Napping – I can remember while in college I always took a 1pm nap, and that nap was at the same time as my freshman year English class. Prof Miller asked me to remain after class early in the semester and the topic of our discussion was my napping. No problem he said, just sit in the back of the class. We won’t talk about my grade.

While in the army – coffee break – Marty was napping – smoke break – Marty was napping. This was a way to beat the Army, who’s MOI was the to keep us sleep deprived – I was always ready to go.

So, HERE is an article I found in Sports Illustrated that should more then convince you to work the necessary sleep breaks into your schedule each and every day, so you can be the most efficient athlete all day long when training and racing.

Core – maybe nothing new here, but all good stuff – take a look.

http://youtu.be/EvwuTw6rjTY

Concussions – Every athlete needs to know about this, as they have become an important element in all sports. In a non-contact sport like ours it would be easy to pass off a fall where you get up whoozy and have a headache the next day – you have  now experienced a concussion, most likely. It is your responsibility to get professional help to sort it out – BE SMART. Read this CCC article here.

Legkov Motivation – Let this video confirm what you are doing in your training is the right stuff and that Legkov is just the guy to motivate you this summer.

Strength from Sweden – Love these guys, although I knew some of this stuff in the early 70s – hope there are some new ideas here for you.

Talk to you soon!

May 14, 2014 (Quebec City, QC) – The International Masters Games Association (IMGA) is staging the second edition of the Winter World Masters Games (WWMG) in Quebec City from Jan. 31-Feb. 8 in 2015, yet despite earlier statements, biathlon will likely now be included in the program.

However the costs of including biathlon is still a potential stumbling block according to correspondence that SkiTrax received from the IMGA.

“The meeting I had was Quebec was positive in regards to biathlon but they were still looking into some budget issues. I’m going to Quebec at the end of the month and by then, they should have gathered all information about the Games and should be ready to launch their website. This also means that a decision about biathlon will have been taken,” wrote Samantha Hayward, Manager Communications & Partnerships (IMGA) on May 12.

Previous communication by Hayward with the organizer indicated that, “The following sports will be on the program: skiing, long track speed skating, ice hockey, curling, winter triathlon, snow shoeing and climbing. As you can see, unfortunately biathlon will not be on the program.”

The reason at that time was some apparent confusion about Canadian legislation regarding the importation of biathlon rifles, but that issue has since been resolved. In recent years Canada has hosted multiple international biathlon events in conjunction with the International Biathlon Union (IBU), including two World Junior events.

The world-class biathlon range on Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Valcartier, is about 20 minutes west of Quebec City and biathlon events that are part of the WWMG would be staged there. Despite previous reports no decision has been made to close the Valcartier biathlon range, also known as the Centre de biathlon Myriam Bédard (CMB), according to Chris Lindsay, High Performance Director at Biathlon Canada – see our report here.

The WWMG is expected to draw some 3,000 athletes over age 25 with anticipated economic spinoffs from the event estimated at between $6 million and $10 million. The IMGA originally slated the event for Sestriere, Italy, but moved it to Quebec City due to financial concerns.

Stay tuned to SkiTrax for any further developments on the 2015 WWMG.

Read February’s WWMG press release here.

May 10, 2014 (Canmore, AB) – Check out this great historical retirement video collage of Chandra Crawford put together by her dad Glen with great footage from her early xc ski years, to Olympic stardom, to Fast and Female fame with cameo appearances and quotes from the sport’s biggest stars…

“After starting skiing at an early age and then advancing onto the Canadian National Cross Country Ski team, Chandra has retired from ski racing. During her 15 years racing she achieved great things and also started up Fast and Female. This video highlights some great moments I had the pleasure in sharing with her.” – Glen Crawford

Watch the retirement video here.

May 09, 2014 (Park City, UT) – Stratton Mountain School’s Nordic Program has again earned the highest national recognition by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) with two awards: the SMS Nordic Team and the SMS T2 Team have earned the 2014 USSA Cross Country Club of the Year Award, and SMS T2 Team Coach Gus Kaeding (SMS ’02) was named USSA 2014 Cross Country International Coach of the Year. Both awards will be presented at the USSA National Congress in Park City on May 16.

In 2013, Kaeding received the USSA Cross Country Domestic Coach of the Year Award, and SMS Nordic Program Director Sverre Caldwell has won the award three times. This is the third time that the SMS Nordic Program has earned the USSA’s Cross Country Club of the Year Award.

“We are honored to win the USSA Cross Country Club of the Year Award,” said SMS Nordic Program Director Sverre Caldwell. “And to have Gus win the International Coach of the Year Award on the heels of his Domestic Coach of the Year Award last year, really speaks to his professionalism and talent as a coach.”

The USSA Cross Country Club of the Year Award is awarded to the club in each sport that has “distinguished itself in providing direction to young athletes through high-level competition programs resulting in athletic success.”

Kaeding has coached the SMS T2 Team, an elite-level Nordic ski team, for the past two years. The team had eight athletes this past year, including Sophie Caldwell (SMS ’08), who took sixth place at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, the best U.S. women’s Olympic finish ever.

“I’m flattered to receive the USSA’s Cross Country International Coach of the Year Award,” Kaeding said. “There are many talented coaches out there, and I’m grateful that USSA values my contribution and has recognized the value of the SMS T2 Team with the USSA Cross Country Club of the Year Award.”

“Stratton Mountain School is committed to providing the highest levels of training and competition,” said SMS Headmaster Chris Kaltsas. “Our Nordic Program has been repeatedly honored for this unparalleled standard of success.”

Stratton Mountain School is a ski and snowboard academy located at the base of Stratton Mountain. SMS serves students in grades 7 – 12. The SMS community of students, faculty, coaches and staff share the pursuit of academic and athletic excellence.

May 08, 2014 (Valcartier, QC) – The recent retirement of Jean-Philippe Le Guellec–Canada’s best-ever male biathlete – following the Sochi Winter Games – is causing confusion about the future of one of Canada’s top biathlon training sites. There was a report in a Quebec City daily that the biathlon training centre at Valcartier (near Quebec City) will be closing, but Biathlon Canada’s High Performance Director, Chris Lindsay insists that his organization has NOT decided to close the Valcartier facility, also known as the Centre de biathlon Myriam Bédard (CMB).

The confusion apparently stems from Biathlon Canada’s decision not to renew a contract for Jean Paquet, a national team coach based in Valcartier. Paquet was Le Guellec’s coach until the biathlete’s retirement. Biathlon Canada, which counts 12 national team members for the 2014-15 season, is now centralizing all national team operations around their facility in Canmore, AB.

“I don’t know of any imminent closing of the CMB,” Lindsay told us. “We need it. According to our grading system, Valcartier is able to accommodate all kinds of provincial, national, and international events up to and including World Cup events. When I visited Valcartier last in the summer of 2013, it was being used for training by some 50 kids from both Ontario and Quebec.”

“It is essential that we maintain such a facility in the eastern half of Canada; we encourage the Quebec federation to stage prestigious events there [in order to boost our sport]. I understand that the Winter World Masters Games will use Valcartier for their biathlon events in 2015. “

Lindsay adds that last winter there was one full-time athlete (Le Guellec) and one coach (Paquet) operating out of Valcartier. He drew a parallel to the Callaghan Valley biathlon range, used for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, “a top-notch facility” that is greatly under-utilized at present. “Some people would like to see a national training centre located there, too.  But with only a dozen athletes on the national team, we would not be doing the athletes any favours by splitting our scarce resources between two or three training centres.”

SkiTrax also attempted to contact the head coach at the Centre de biathlon Myriam Bédard, but did not hear back by press time. The Myriam Bédard Training Centre is located on the grounds of Canadian Forces Base Valcartier and is named after Myriam Bédard, a 1994 Olympic gold medalist biathlete from Quebec City. The biathlon range has 35km of trails and can be used by up to 500 competitors, including roller skiers in the summer according to information at Centre Plein Air Castor.

Plein Air Castor here.

May 05, 2014 (Trondheim, Norway) – Norwegian Nordic xc ski star, Petter Northug, was driving drunk on Sunday morning when he was involved in a single vehicle car accident reports www.nrk.no. Photos of the vehicle show substantial damage after it hit a guardrail; Northug and a male passenger escaped without serious injury. Apparently Northug caused the accident by driving straight through a traffic circle.

It is also reported that Northug left the scene of the accident and there are conflicting reports as to whether the unidentified passenger was injured or not. There is speculation that the 28-year-old could end up in jail as a result of this incident.

“I have deepest regret for what has happened. I am very unhappy now and very disappointed with what I’ve done. I am grateful that my poor judgment did not have an even bigger impact,” said Northug in a press release. “I have openly told police about what happened, and am prepared to take the punishment for my actions.”

“I know that I am a role model for many young people, recognizing fully that I have not behaved as a role model should. I want to apologize to everyone, and to all those who are now disappointed me. I want to learn from the situation in such a way that I grow as a person. I know this might become my life’s toughest race, but I’m willing to bet for success.”

Northug has skied professionally since 2005, winning 18 medals at various World Cup events (11 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze), putting him into a class of his own. He also won four medals (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.

Norway has some of the most severe penalties for drunk driving in the world; but the actual penalties depend on the blood alcohol level registered at the time of the arrest according to Wikipedia. While SkiTrax has not been able to determine Northug’s level, a blood alcohol reading of 0.1% normally results in a fine of at least 10,000 NOK ($1,840 CAD), suspended or mandatory sentence (which could mean 3 weeks in prison) and a suspended license.

NRK.no here.
TV2.no here.

May 05, 2014   (Canmore, AB) -Canada’s Megan Imrie is going to hang up her biathlon rifle to start cracking the books at university, and getting her hands dirty on the family ranch, Biathlon Canada announced on Monday.

The 28-year-old Imrie, of Falcon Lake, Man., retires from the National Biathlon Team after having competed for nearly one decade against the top athletes on the World Cup. One of the most respected and likeable athletes on the international circuit, Imrie also represented Canada at the Sochi and Vancouver Games, along with three World Championships.

“I knew mentally and physically heading into this Olympic season that this would by my final year,” said Imrie. “Embracing that reality was a real spark for me this year. I was relaxed and just had fun. When you are having fun in sport, that is when the results come.”

And they did for the soft-spoken, yet always quotable, Canuck.

Cruising under the radar, and letting her performance do the talking, Imrie enjoyed career-best results. In Sochi, she was the first woman in Canadian history to suit up for an Olympic mass start competition, which is the overall top 30 competitors of the field. Imrie qualified for every competition at the Games, and with her teammates, narrowly missed a relay podium. Earlier in the season, she finished a historic fourth with her teammates in a relay at a World Cup in France.

“Outside of the Olympics, that was the most proud I have ever been wearing the Canadian uniform,” said Imrie. “I have witnessed everyone of my teammates train through blood, sweat and tears to the breaking point. We were underdogs, but very fit this year and hungry for results. We came so close to that podium, but it wasn’t meant to be. I do believe you’ll see the Canadian biathlon women on the World Cup podium again in the very near future.”

“Megan has been a central part of our high performance program over the past two quadrennials. Her positive spirit and fierce determination made her a valuable contributor to our team performance and culture,” said Chris Lindsay, high-performance director, Biathlon Canada.

Results aside, Imrie often found herself in the media spotlight throughout the last Olympic quadrennial, thanks to her creative and edgy fundraising efforts to support her Olympic journey.

One of the most driven athletes as it relates to seeking sponsorship, Imrie and four of her World Cup mates turned heads around the world after peeling their clothes in 2009 to create the hugely successful “Bold, Beautiful, Biathlon” nude calendar.

Significantly underfunded compared to their international competitors, Canada’s top women biathletes developed the plan to aggressively seek additional funding opportunities leading to their home Olympics in Vancouver-Whistler 2010.

Growing up on a family ranch, Imrie was also the daughter of an avid trapper and hunter. As a result, she was a vocal and enthusiastic supporter of the fur trade in Canada throughout her athletic career – an industry she also leaned on for financial support. The Manitoba Trappers Association created a “donate a fur” program so all trappers across the province could invest in her pursuit of excellence. Soon trappers from across North America were supporting her.

“Seeing a competitor from Germany or Norway on the start line felt like a horse race. Only I’m a Shetland pony and they’re a Thoroughbred–you know which one’s going to come out ahead,” said Imrie, who fittingly officially announced her retirement while sharing stories from her Olympic experience in Sochi during a barbecue celebration with about 150 members of the Whiteshell Trappers Association over the weekend.

“The battle for private funding is critical to success as an athlete, but can be difficult and competitive. Understanding this, I felt the need to take risks, be aggressive with fundraising and surround myself with people and organizations that I believe in and support me. Thankfully, I was able to have some success with it. Private fundraising enabled me to have a biathlon career.”

Imrie’s passion for the great outdoors is genuine regardless of the funds raised. She was comfortable in her role as unofficial ambassador for Canada’s fur industry, as well as the World Fur Trade Federation. But in her creative sponsorship trail, Imrie also locked up deals in the boardrooms of a lumberyard, meat and grocery store and a soap company.

“There are so many sponsors, volunteers, retailers, family, friends and members of the Canadian media to thank for my success both on and off the field of play,” said Imrie. “From every coach and Canadian cheering me on alongside the trails to my family, and Biathlon Canada, that has been there for me every step of the way, I am forever grateful. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to wear the Canadian uniform, and represent each of you around the world. It is an honour I will never forget.”

Imrie will pursue pre-veterinary science at the University of Victoria this fall. While never losing sight of the international race scene, she will also continue her passion for riding horses and make up for lost time doing chores on the family ranch.

Biathlon Canada is the governing body for biathlon in the country, and oversees the Canadian Championships, Eastern and Western Canadian Championships, and North American Cups held in Canada. With the support of its valued corporate partners – Millennium Geomatics Ltd., Apogée Sports, Kama, Roeckl Sports, Lapua, USANA, Nordic Marksman Inc, and Adidas Eyewear – along with the Government of Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee and Own the Podium, Biathlon Canada’s mandate is to provide national level programs for the continuous development of biathlon athletes from the grassroots to the elite level. For more information on Biathlon Canada, please visit us at www.biathloncanada.ca on the Internet.

May 05, 2014 (Thunder Bay, ON) – For the second year in a row, there was still snow at Lappe Nordic Ski Centre on May 1st. To celebrate, a fun cross-country ski race was held — a biathlon with a twist. Approximately 20 skiers were out at the event and skied short loops stopping to shoot water balloons into garbage-can targets.

The fun event was part of the festivities surrounding the Lappe Nordic Centre announcing that the 2015 Ski Nationals will take place from March 14 to March 21 next year. Read the original release here.

Watch the 2015 XC Ski Nationals promo video.

Read more in the Chronicle-Journal here.

May 3, 2014 (Sweden) – Swedish Ski Association has published nine men and nine ladies that are nominated to the  the A-team training group for the season 2014/2015 with the major goal FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun.

Additionally, eight men and eight ladies get the chance in the development squad Team 2015. “We have expanded the men’s and women’s team from eight to nine members in each team,” head coach Rikard Grip reveals.

New faces
Jonna Sundling, 20, from IFK Umeå has been promoted to the 1 team thanks to her great performance at the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships in Val di Fiemme, where she the sprint in seven seconds and as the anchor lady  decided the relay to Sweden.

”Jonna has a very high capacity and we already want her to train with the first team. It’s an investment for the future and a girl that will surely become a valuable training partner for our experienced skiers,” Rikard Grip says.

Hanna Erikson has been also picked up from Team 2015 to the first team as Sara Lindborg makes a comeback to the elite ladies team after a strong season. Lisa Larsen has been left out of the team due to  injuries, Magdalena Pajala has been moved to the  development team.

On the men’s side, sprint specialist Simon Persson is the only new name in the A team. Simon showed several times this winter, including in Davos, he has extreme speed on his skis when he is in shape. “He is a very interesting talent with high potential,” Rikard Grip confirms.

A Team

Ladies
– Sofia Bleckur, IFK Mora SK
– Hanna Erikson, Åsarna IK
– Anna Haag, IFK Mora SK
– Ida Ingemarsdotter, Åsarna IK
– Charlotte Kalla, Piteå Elit
– Sara Lindborg, Falun-Borlänge SK
– Stina Nilsson, IFK Mora SK
– Jonna Sundling, IFK Umeå
– Emma Wikén, Åsarna IK

Men
– Calle Halfvarsson, Falun-Borlänge SK
– Marcus Hellner, Gellivare Skidallians
– Emil Jönsson, IFK Mora SK
– Anton Lindblad, Sollefteå Skidor IF
– Lars Nelson, Åsarna IK
– Johan Olsson, Åsarna IK
– Daniel Richardsson, Hudiksvalls IF
– Simon Persson, IFK Umeå
– Teodor Peterson, Åsarna IK

Team 2015

Ladies
– Anna Dyvik, Falun-Borlänge SK
– Hanna Falk, Ulricehamns IF
– Sofia Henriksson, Strömnäs GIF
– Magdalena Pajala, Piteå Elit
– Evelina Settlin, Hudiksvalls IF
– Marika Sundin, Sollefteå Skidor IF
– Julia Svan, Vansbro AIK
– Jennie Öberg, Piteå Elit

Men
– Simon Andersson, Falun-Borlänge SK
– Martin Bergström, Piteå Elit
– Jens Burman, Åsarna IK
– Martin Johansson, IFK Mora SK
– Simon Lageson, Åsarna IK
– Jesper Modin, Piteå Elit
– Carl Quicklund, Östersunds SK
– Marcus Ruus, Gillberga SK

Read the whole story here.

May 3, 2014 (Norway) – The Norwegian Cross-Country Committee has selected 25 athletes for three national Cross-Country teams. There are 11 athletes in the ladies’ team, eight in the men’s saquad and six athletes in the men’s sprint national group.

A few skiers have changed their focus after last winter.  Pål Golberg is switching from sprint national team to the all-round squad, whereas  Finn Hågen Krogh is going the opposite way. Simen Østensen comes back to the all-round  team, also Chris Jespersen is back in the national team after several years out.

Simen Andreas Sveen and Didrik Tønseth are the new faces on the all-round team,  Sondre Turvoll Fossli makes his debut on the sprint team. Ladies’ team will be joined by Kathrine Harsem and Martine Ek Hagen who get a chance on the women’s elite team.

“We want to signal a direction towards the next Olympics. This is not a generation change, but we have a young athletes in different teams. Preparation for the next winter is going to be similar as before with less high altitude training,” head coach Vidar Løfshus explains.

Vibeke Skofterud, Oystein Pettersen, Petter Eliassen, Niklas Dyrhaug and Tord Asle Gjerdalen are going to leave the national system for the season 2014/2015.

National Teams

Ladies
– Celine Brun-Lie, Njård
– Marit Bjørgen, Rognes IL
– Maiken Caspersen Falla, Gjerdrum IL
– Martine Ek Hagen, IL BUL
– Kathrine Harsem, IL Varden
– Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen, IL Heming
– Therese Johaug, IL Nansen
– Marthe Kristoffersen, IL Varden
– Kristin Størmer Steira, IL Forsøk
– Heidi Weng, IL BUL
– Ingvild Flugstad Østberg, Gjøvik Skiklubb

Coaches: Egil Kristiansen and Roar Hjelmset

Men – Allround  

– Pål Golberg, Gol IL
– Chris Jespersen, IL Korlevoll
– Eldar Rønning, Skogn IL
– Sjur Røthe, Voss IL
– Simen Andreas Sveen, Ring IL
– Martin Johnsrud Sundby, Røa IL
– Didrik Tønseth, Byåsen IL
– Simen Østensen, Fossum IF

Coaches: Trond Nystad og Steinar Mundal

Men – Sprint
– Eirik Brandsdal, Kjelsås IL
– Sondre Turvoll Fossli, Hokksund IL
– Anders Gløersen, Rustad IL
– Ola Vigen Hattestad, Ørje IL
– Finn Hågen Krogh, Tverrelvdal IL
– Tomas Northug, Strindheim IL

Coach: Arild Monsen

Read the whole article here.

April 25, 2014 (Collingwood, ON) – Dara Howell, Jan Hudec, Mac Marcoux, and Mark McMorris are among Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic medal-winning skiers and snowboarders earning an extra $5,500 in training funds thanks to an endowment offered by the Canadian Ski Council (CSC).

As part of its Making Winter Winners program, the Canadian Ski Council pledged $104,500 in funding to Canadian snow sports athletes who medaled at the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

The funds have been divided among 19 skiers and snowboarders ($5,500 each) who won Gold, Silver, or Bronze Olympic and Paralympic medals in sports designated as Canadian Snowsports Association (CSA) disciplines. Athletes benefitting from the funds also include women’s mogul Gold medalist Justine Dufour-Lapointe, women’s snowboard cross Silver medalist Dominique Maltais, men’s ski halfpipe silver medalist Mike Riddle, women’s ski cross Silver medalist Kelsey Serwa, and triple-Gold Paralympic men’s cross-country ski medalist Brian McKeever.

“Canada is so proud of this year’s winners of Olympic or Paralympic medals,” says Patrick Arkeveld, President and CEO of the Canadian Ski Council. “The ski and snowboard industry knows how incredibly hard these athletes worked to reach those podiums and how determined they are to reach future podiums-we hope that in some small way these extra funds will assist them in achieving their dreams.”

Making Winter Winners is a fundraising program created by the Canadian Ski Council (CSC), Canadian Snowsports Association and CSC member associations to assist amateur skiers and snowboarders on the road to competing at national and international levels. This year’s $104,500 Olympic endowment has been made possible, in part, through donations by participants in the CSC’s skier and snowboarder development programs as well as from donations by participating ski areas and ski area operator associations.

Cheque presentations to the athletes will take place this spring as part of regional meetings held by Canada’s ski and snowboard industry associations.

The Canadian Ski Council (CSC) is a national, not-for-profit ski and snowboard association whose goal is to increase participation in skiing and snowboarding. For more information on the CSC and its Making Winter Winners program, please visit: www.skicanada.org or call CSC President and CEO, Patrick Arkeveld at: 705-445-9140.

Making Winter Winners Medal Count:

In the Olympic competitions, CSA disciplines accounted for 12 of Canada’s 25 medals:

GOLD
1. Justine Dufour-Lapointe – Women’s Moguls
2. Dara Howell – Women’s Slopestyle
3. Alex Bilodeau – Men’s Moguls
4. Marielle Thompson – Women’s Ski Cross

SILVER
5. Chloe Dufour-Lapointe – Women’s Moguls
6. Mikael Kingsbury – Men’s Moguls
7. Dominique Maltais – Women’s Snowboard Cross
8. Mike Riddle – Men’s Halfpipe
9. Kelsey Serwa – Women’s Ski Cross

BRONZE
10. Mark McMorris- Men’s Slopestyle
11. Kim Lamarre – Women’s Slopestyle
12. Jan Hudec – Men’s Super G

In the Paralympic competitions, CSA disciplines accounted for 12 of Canada’s 16 medals:

GOLD
13. Brian McKeever- (3 Gold) Men’s XC10k, Sprint, 20k (Visually Impaired)
14. Chris Klebl – Men’s XC 10k (Sitting)
15. Josh Dueck – Men’s Alpine SC (Sitting)
16. Mac Marcoux – Men’s Alpine GS (Visually Impaired)

SILVER
17. Josh Dueck – Men’s Alpine DH(Sitting)

BRONZE
18. Chris Williamson – Men’s Alpine SL (Visually Impaired)
19. Kimberly Joines – Women’s Alpine SL (Sitting)
20. Caleb Brousseau – Men’s Alpine SG (Sitting)
21. Mac Marcoux – (2 Bronze) Men’s Alpine SG & DH (Visually Impaired)

Total = 19 individuals with 24 medals

April 24, 2014 (Toronto, ON) – Today, the Canadian Olympic Committee issued the following statement of congratulations to four Olympians named to the Sports Hall of Fame. Eight Canadian athletes and builders make up the class of 2014, including: Horst Bulau (Lake Placid 1980, Sarjevo 1984, Calgary 1988 and Albertville 1992); Pierre Harvey (Montreal 1976, Sarajevo 1984, Los Angeles 1984 and Calgary 1988); Geraldine Heaney, two-time Olympic medallist (Nagano 1998 and Salt Lake City 2002); and Elizabeth Manley, Calgary 1988 Olympic silver medallist.

“Four of our nation’s Olympic heroes were today named to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. Congratulations to Horst, Pierre, Geraldine and Elizabeth and all the other nominees on this great achievement. Their contributions to our sporting history are being rewarded once more, and with this honour, we are ensuring they will never be forgotten.”
– Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee

Sarah Burke, four-time Winter X-Games champion was also named to this year’s list. Burke died at the age of 29 in 2012 after a fall during a training run in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was credited for successfully lobbying the IOC for the inclusion of ski halfpipe at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games.

April 23, 2014 – During the 2013/2014 season, FIS performed as many as 1,379 out-of-competition tests, including blood and urine tests (354 with EPO analysis) as well as blood passport samples. These numbers include the pre-competition blood testing conducted at selected World Cup events. In addition, WADA conducted another 295 out-of-competition tests on FIS athletes during the same time. WADA’s out-of-competition testing included blood and urine (including EPO analysis) controls.

April 20, 2014 – The New England Nordic Ski Association is proud to honor Bill Henchey with the 2014 John Caldwell Award. The Caldwell Award is given annually in recognition of outstanding contributions to Nordic skiing in New England.

“One of the defining strengths of our Nordic community are the many folks working tirelessly behind the scenes to elevate the experience for everyone else,” said Zach Stegeman, executive director at NENSA. “Bill epitomizes that spirit and I hope this recognition of his efforts will inspire younger skiers who have benefitted from his work to give back in a similar fashion.”

That dedication to the sport and focus on making the best experience for all participants is evident in Henchey’s multiple roles. Many skiers will know his work from the terrific skiing conditions, and quality racecourses at Trapp Family Lodge. Henchey can also be seen in the signature yellow parka as a Technical Delegate at competitions across New England, ensuring a safe and fair competition for all.
“Bill is the hardest working person in the ski business that I know,” said Jim Rodrigues, a fellow TD who has managed NENSA events for twelve years. “It shows in every event he is involved in, down to looking at the smallest details.”

Sam Von Trapp of the Trapp Family Lodge echoed Rodrigues’ sentiment. “With Bill in charge we always know that we will host top-notch races. From course prep leading up to the event, to putting together an über-capable team, Bill only knows how to succeed.”

And succeed he has. A shining example from this season was his instrumental role in the success of the 2014 Junior National Championship, a monster event that Henchey and the team at Trapp Family Lodge and Stowe Nordic Outing Club turned into a great showcase for the historic venue.

“Bill Henchey is the driving force behind creating the reliably beautiful race course conditions and stadium setups at Trapps.,” said Carol Van Dyke, President of Stowe Nordic Outing Club. “Even busy with his own summer landscaping business, Bill works doggedly year round to improve his TD certification training and is openly available for consultations about upcoming races. Bill astutely applies all his expertise to his Chief of Competition role at high-level competitions at Trapps, as well as traveling to other venues as a skilled Technical Delegate. He is a trustworthy, proficient, and visionary personage to work with.”

In reflecting on Henchey’s impact Von Trapp concluded, “The Trapp Family Lodge, and the New England nordic community, are lucky to have him help carry the flag for our ‘virtuous sport’.”

April 18, 2014 (Park City, Utah) – Earlier this week the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) delivered some difficult news to their Nordic Combined (NC) team with respect to changing its funding model effectively reducing money for the program.

SkiTrax received a copy of an April 14 email from USSA President and CEO, Tiger Shaw, to stakeholders explaining this decision. “Moving forward, we will continue to provide direct funding for qualifying elite athletes, but will no longer support the traditional team infrastructure.

“We will work with the Nordic combined community to look at alternatives in structure and funding. The USA has an engaged and passionate club-based pipeline, especially in communities of Lake Placid, Steamboat Springs and Park City. The USSA will continue to work with these clubs to provide an infrastructure for athletic success and sport development.”

SkiTrax spoke to NC head coach Dave Jarrett about this decision and how it will affect the sport going forward. We reached Jarrett near Park City, Utah where ski jumping competitions were held at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

Jarrett confirmed that the USSA usually provides annual funding of about $600,000 for the NC program and part of this includes his own salary. USSA funding will be cut at the end of July, 2014.

“This was part of strategic planning move and a ranking of teams. The USSA is putting resources where they think they see the most medal potential. It is based on their criteria,” commented Jarrett.

Among the criteria as noted by Shaw are four key areas: Relevance to stakeholders and public; Long-term viability; Potential for future elite success; Sustainability of the sport long-term.

The change comes only four short years after Vancouver 2010 where the U.S. Nordic Combined made history taking home four medals including Billy Demong’s gold in the individual large hill/10km event along with silver for Johnny Spillane in the same event plus another silver in individual normal hill/10km (Spillane has since retired). The squad of Demong, Spillane, Todd Lodwick and Brett Camerota also won silver in the team large hill/4x5km race for a truly memorable Games. Lodwick retired at the end of this season.

Since then, there have been sparks of success including Nordic world championship medals, but the team has struggled to regain its previous prominent status and the Sochi 2014 Games were a disappointment as well. Now the axe has fallen.

USSA support will continue on an individual basis for NC’s brightest stars – Jarrett mentioned Demong together with Bryan and Taylor Fletcher as among these. “They would have to do whole thing on their own; it might give them some sort of chance. But it is hard to see unless they piggyback on other programs.” He was unsure of the dollar figures involved [a Utah-based newspaper puts these individual amounts at $40-$50,000/yr].

The silver lining might be how the USSA recognizes “…the passionate club-based pipeline, especially in communities of Lake Placid, Steamboat Springs and Park City. The USSA will continue to work with these clubs to provide an infrastructure for athletic success and sport development.”

SkiTrax also caught up Luke Bodensteiner, USSA Executive Vice President, Athletics who commented, “The international playing field for all sports has changed over the years and we have to adapt accordingly which means making some tough decisions not easily done. Our mandate includes managing 13 sports and we need to consider the long-term success of all of the players.

“That said, we’re intent on working with all parties associated with Nordic combined and try our best to secure funding for the program from the private and business sectors during the current period, and determine where things are in July.”

Jarrett is clearly disappointed by the USSA decision, but not surprised; he saw the writing on the wall. NC joined the National Nordic Foundation (NNF) a few years ago. NNF directly raises money for U.S. NC and cross-country skiing (over $300,000 overall for 2013) and there is some hope of minimum baseline funding. “NNF is a great vehicle. Monies can be raised and spent on the development side.”

Jarrett has had a long relationship with the USSA, but he questions parts of their rationale based on future Olympic medal counts, pointing to how there are three Olympic medals in NC versus only two in figure skating. He further points out that, on a worldwide basis, it is ski jumping that draws the biggest TV audiences at Winter Games. “Ski jumping has highest viewing numbers in Europe.” Ski jumping met a similar fate with USSA some years ago but has rallied to find support for the program and NC hopes to do the same.

Unfortunately, U.S.NC athletes are at a disadvantage compared to their European colleagues where there is government support to ski associations, “There is also the military option which pays athletes to pursue NC or biathlon. But here we have no government support. All monies are raised through sponsorships,” continued Jarrett.

The end of an Olympic quadrennial is a potent time for change and the US is not alone in dealing with funding issues as their counterparts in Canada are also facing cuts rumoured to be around 30% for their cross-country ski programs.

Some good news in the equation is that the USSA has also agreed to remove all encumbrances that might inhibit NC fundraising. “We’re pretty much looking at all options: uniforms, title sponsors, etc. We’re also talking with Alan Johnson of USA Ski Jumping and Robbie Beck of Women’s Ski Jumping USA to pick their brains to find out what works and what doesn’t.” Jarrett gives Johnson particular praise for…“Keeping that sport going and rallying the cause.”

Jarrett’s connection to his sport runs much deeper than simply his job as head coach, he was part of the U.S. Ski Team from 1992 to 1998 and his 11-year-old son, Jack enjoys NC. “Every junior and his or her parents are asking each other ‘should we continue with NC?’ They wonder if there is a light at the end of the tunnel…”

Possibly, part of the answer might be overseas funding of the U.S. NC team. In the meantime, Jarrett is thinking not only about fundraising, but how to direct his team. “We’re training as if season will start in November. That’s what athletes need to focus on. This entire funding thing is a big distraction!”

SkiTrax will continue to monitor this story

April 17, 2014 (Jackson, NH) – After leading the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation For 38 years, Thom Perkins has announced his retirement from the organization.

As its executive director since 1976, Perkins has been instrumental in transforming the small village of Jackson into one of the nation’s premier cross-country skiing and snowshoeing venues. Passionate about the sport of cross-country skiing, Perkins developed the existing trail system from a modest number of trails to the present far-reaching network of 150 kilometers, all the while setting the standard for grooming of cross-country ski trails.

An active member of the cross-country skiing community and the 2010 winner of SkiNH’s Al Merrill Award for outstanding contributions to cross-country skiing, Perkins provided training opportunities to skiers ranging from school children, college teams, Paralympic and Junior National competitors to Olympic-level athletes.

Perkins is a board member emeritus of the international trade association of cross-country ski areas — CCSAA. He was the recipient of the North American Ski Journalist Association Lifetime Achievement Award and was named one of 25 Nordic Heroes in the United States in a feature article in Cross Country Skier Magazine. Perkins represented New Hampshire’s cross-country ski industry as a member of the board of SkiNH, the trade association for the state’s alpine and Nordic areas.

During his tenure, Perkins nourished the unique circumstances under which Jackson Ski Touring Foundation was founded. With almost all foundation trails located on private, government or town-owned land, Perkins was a steward for private landowners and a hero to cross-country ski enthusiasts, working tirelessly to provide skiing and economic benefits to the region. He proposed legislation enacted in 2013, which increases protection from liability for landowners who permit use of their land for recreational purposes.

“We as a community recognize the tremendous strides Thom has made over the decades to position the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation as one of the most recognized cross-country skiing and snowshoeing facilities in the United States. Thom’s name is synonymous with the foundation and cross-country skiing in New England,” said Kevin Killourie, president of Jackson Ski Touring Foundation.

The foundation has announced that Breanne Torrey, director of operations, has been promoted to acting director of the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation. Torrey has worked at the foundation for the past five seasons in many capacities, including director of ski patrol. She received her bachelor of science from the University of Maine in National Parks, Outdoor Recreation and Tourism.

“Brea’s education, five years of experience at Jackson Ski Touring and her background make her well-poised to step into the role of acting director,” said Sam Harding, vice president of the foundation.

As part of the transition, respected local businessman and avid outdoor enthusiast Dave Kinsman has been named transition coordinator to assist Torrey. A resident of Fryeburg, Maine, Kinsman has been an active and contributing member of the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation community for many years and is a past rental shop manager.

Jackson Ski Touring Foundation is a community based not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, chartered to maintain trails in and around the village of Jackson. The foundation maintains 150 kilometers of varied cross-country ski and snowshoe trails. The foundation operates under a special-use permit with the White Mountain National Forest, and with the cooperation of 82 private landowners and the village of Jackson. More information about the foundation and its offerings can be found on the web at www.jacksonxc.org.

April 17, 2014 – Seefeld, Austria is one of four candidates bidding to host the 2019 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. Expertise in Nordic sports and tourism, an excellent infrastructure and internationally renowned Tyrolean hospitality – these key words describe Seefeld and what it has to offer.

April 17, 2014 – On April 11-12, during the spring meetings in Zurich (SUI), the Nordic Combined Sub-Committee for Officials, Rules and Control, as well as the Nordic Combined Executive Board met and discussed new proposals and calendars. A major discussion was the first steps needed to introduce women’s Nordic Combined.

Nordic Combined Committee Chairman Horst Hüttel and Race Director Lasse Ottesen presented a proposal on a first international training camp. It is set to take place in Oberstdorf (GER) and will be hosted by the German Ski Association in conjunction with this year’s Youth Grand Prix and the Summer Grand Prix finals. Before finalising the programme, National Ski Associations will be consulted for feedback.

Another main topic was the World Cup and Continental Cup calendars for the upcoming season, which were presented by the Ottesen in cooperation with Continental Cup Coordinator Toni Guggemoos. For the World Cup, the Russian venue of Nizhny Tagil is new on the calendar while traditional venues such as Ramsau (AUT), Schonach (GER) and Chaux-Neuve (FRA) will retain their fixed spots.

Furthermore, different proposals and formats were assessed: “Besides the important first steps for ladies‘ Nordic Combined, we are also proposing to increase the Olympic Quota from 55 to 65 athletes and to add the popular team sprint to the Olympic programme. The Nordic Combined Triple was a success last season and no changes have been proposed. It is important to keep building this great highlight in the coming years”, Ottesen summarised.

All proposals will be submitted to the National Ski Associations concerned, before the Nordic Combined Committee finalises its proposals to submit to the FIS Council at its meetings during the 49th FIS Congress in Barcelona (SPA) from 1st–6th June 2014.

April 14, 2014 – At the conclusion of each season NENSA is always excited to announce the overall male and female Eastern Cup Champions. Recipients will see a new title on their award this year as it has been renamed the Mike Gallagher Cup.  This standing award, donated by a Vermont family, will reside at NENSA, and the male and female champions will receive a hand made mug from TwoPotters of Vermont.

“The Eastern Cup circuit is New England’s premier race series and we feel the competition and community behind the series speak to Mike Gallagher’s legacy as an athlete, coach, and community leader,” said NENSA executive director, Zach Stegeman. “Thank you to the Gallagher family for supporting us in our approach to honoring Mike’s legacy for NENSA.”

This season athletes were introduced to a new Eastern Cup venue at Waterville Valley, NH and also returned to Black Mountain (Rumford, ME) and Holderness School, (Holderness, NH) both back from a hiatus in 2013.  Opening weekend at Craftsbury and the Combined Eastern Cup /College Carnival at Trapp Family Lodge, completed a schedule of quality events.

This was a particularly competitive year on the Eastern Cup circuit as several visiting out-of-region skiers stepped up the pace while vying for a chance to earn points in the hopes of securing a spot on the US Olympic team for Sochi.

In the end it was Katharine Ogden, SMS and Patrick O’Brien, Craftsbury Green Racing Project, taking home the overall NENSA Eastern Cup overall championship honors.

Katharine continued the tradition that began last year with Cate Brams, CSU, by winning the women’s series as a junior skier. Katharine has competed Internationally for the past two years gaining valuable experience that she brings back home to Vermont with her.

Caitlin Patterson of the Craftsbury GRP placed second and Heidi Halvorsen, Stowe, VT,  took third upon her return from training and racing in Norway.

Patrick O’Brien, also representing Craftsbury, has been a mainstay on the CGRP since its inception several years ago.  Pat has traveled Internationally as well with the team in races across the pond.

Jack Schrupp, Gunstock Nordic was second in the overall points,  followed by Peter Kling, APU/GMVS, who amassed high placings in the early season races.

The NENSA Eastern Cup series is the premier race series in New England and one of the most competitive regional events in the country. Participation consists of college, juniors, seniors and masters racers all vying for Eastern Cup points. The juniors have the added incentive to earn separate points for the highly competitive New England Junior National Team. USSA National Ranking points are up for grabs at each of these races (FIS points too, in most cases), for skiers looking to gain better seeding in USSA races and potential starts in OPA and World Cup races.

The racing format of the Eastern Cups allows skiers to go head to head against the best skiers in our region, who are also some of the best in the country. One can find the traditional race format of interval start races at these events, along with full sprints with heats brackets, short distance prologue races, and exciting mass start races in both classic and skating technique.

For full Eastern Cup results go to here. Congratulations to these athletes who produced fine performances throughout the season and made this year’s Eastern Cup race series fun to watch!

April 13, 2014 (Canmore, Alberta) – Eric de Nys, former Cross Country Canada National Ski Team coach will be leading the newly formed WinSport Junior Ski Team program based in Canmore, Alberta.

A ten-year veteran of Canada’s national team coaching and technical staff, de Nys has led athletes at three Olympic Games, including Chandra Crawford who won a gold medal in Torino in 2006. A graduate of the National Coaching Institute after competing for Canada on its development squad, and at the 1994 World Junior Ski Championships, de Nys spent the last two seasons working as the National Ski Team’s women’s coach.

“Eric has played a critical role in developing many of Canada’s top skiers,” said Davin MacIntosh. “He is a proven performer, and his leadership of the WinSport Junior team will ensure that there is alignment and collaboration with national team programming – this represents a significant advantage for the future success of our program. Eric will bring a wealth of experience to the athletes at WinSport’s Junior Ski Team.”

The WinSport Junior Cross Country Ski Team is a year-round program for older junior cross country skiers that have graduated from high school. The objective of the program is to provide top quality training and racing opportunities specific to athletes in this stage of development with the goal that these athletes will progress to a Cross Country Canada National Development Centre and the National Ski Team. The program is fully aligned with Cross Country Canada’s Long Term Athlete Development Program.

This program is delivered by WinSport. WinSport is a not-for-profit winter sport institute that operates winter sport programs and facilities including Canada Olympic Park and the Olympic Oval in Calgary, the Bill Warren Training Centre at the Canmore Nordic Centre and the Beckie Scott High Performance Centre on the Haig Glacier.

Bow Valley College is launching an innovative post-secondary education program based in Canmore specifically designed for athletes in the program. The program (referred to as “Hub of Learning”) is also available to other athletes training and living in the Bow Valley. All athletes are automatically enrolled in the Hub of Learning Program. Bow Valley College teaching staff will work with athletes on an individual basis to determine each athlete’s post-secondary education goals and to devise and support a plan to work towards those goals while living and training in Canmore. Support will include post-secondary education navigation, study skills, time management for distance learning, coordination of students attending postsecondary institutions in Calgary and coordination of students taking distance learning courses.

For further details please contact at Mike Norton at m.norton@winsport.ca
Program guidelines

March 28, 2014 – We are pleased to announce the final standings and winners of the SkiTrax FIS Fantasy World Cup Contest after the conclusion of the 2013/14 Viessmann XC FIS World Cup series during which USA’s Kikkan Randall (USA) brought home her third consecutive Sprint Cup globe (read more here) and Canada’s Alex Harvey (CAN) finished third overall in the men’s rankings (read more here).

Congratulations to Team nike can for securing the contest victory and winning the fabulous SkiTrax FIS Fantasy World Cup Contest 2013/14 grand prize Fischer 13/14 Speedmax Skate or Classic Skis, Xcelerator Bindings, Carbonlite Poles (value $1,200) with a total of 1,602 points. Team It will never catch on won the second prize with 1,571 points, with team Dominator winning the third prize with 1,568 points.

We’d like to congratulate our top ten winners and thank all contestants for participating in the only Fantasy Nordic contests of their kind worldwide featuring fabulous prizes along with fabulous top-level xc ski racing. See the full list of contest winners below.

View the final standings HERE.

Thanks to all of our great sponsors, including Fischer, Nipika Mountain Resort, Rudy Project, Salomon, Marwe, Halti, Bjorn Daehlie, Exer-Genie, Madshus, Fresh Air Experience, High Peaks Cyclery, and Buff.

SkiTrax Fantasy FIS World Cup 2013/14 Contest Prize Winners

– nike can – Nicolas Poirier – Quebec City, QC
1st Prize – Fischer 13/14 Speedmax Skate or Classic Skis, Xcelerator Bindings, Carbonlite Poles (value $1,200)

– It will never catch on – Mackenzie Edwards – Canmore, AB
2nd Prize – Nipika Mountain Resort – 2 nights lodging in fully equipped cabin incl. all amenities (value $675)

– Dominator- Dominique Moncion-Groulx – Gatineau, QC
3rd Prize – Rudy Project Sunglasses For Sport Agon + For Life Spinhawk (value $450)

– les pitchoune – Guillaume Eschard – Loire Atlantique, France
4th Prize – Salomon S-Lab Skate or Classic boots ($450sk/$299cl)

– Autchkey – Audrey Hagberg – Deep River, ON
5th Prize – Marwe 610c Roller Skis (value $349)

– swedish – Vincent Ruet – Montalieu Vercieu, France
6th Prize – Halti Nokka XC Outfit (value $325)

– xium – Frans Häggblom – Helsinki, Finland
7th Prize – Bjorn Daehlie XC Ski Suit (value $300)

– jester – Jesse Heckrodt – Enderby, BC
8th Prize – Exer-Genie XC Trainer (value $229)

– RunningEST – Kais Viljandi – Viljandimaa, Estonia
9th Prize –Madshus K it w/Ski Bag, Waist Belt Bag, Headware (value $130)

– UK Nordics – David Taylor – Nottinghamshire, UK
10th Prize – Fresh Air Experience or High Peaks Cyclery Gift Certificate (value $100)

WCup Break – Buff Headware to top 3 contest leaders before the Tour de Ski (value $25)

SkiTrax is North America’s leading Nordic skiing publication and the official magazine of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) and Cross Country Canada (CCC).

March 27, 2014 (Canmore, AB) – Chandra Crawford, 30, of Canmore, AB, who is probably best known for her exuberant and heartfelt singing of the Canadian anthem from atop the podium after she won gold in the Olympic Cross-country sprint at the 2006 Turin Games, told SkiTrax in an exclusive interview that she plans to announce her retirement from competitive skiing. Crawford’s medal was Canada’s second Olympic gold first achieved by the legendary Beckie Scott at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.

In her candid interview, Crawford intimated that she had originally intended to compete for another year, but changed her plans mid-season and was happy going into the Sochi 2014 Games with the knowledge that this would be her last international sprint. “It was just the right time for me,” she said.

Other career highlights for Crawford include her first World Cup gold medal in her hometown, Canmore, Alta., in 2008 in the skate sprint event, followed by a second World Cup gold in Lahti, Finland later that season. She also represented Canada at the Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 Olympic Games, where she shared experiencing “…a feeling of having done my all and feeling satisfied with an unimpressive result.”

Crawford plans to become more involved in Fast and Female, an organization she founded that empowers girls and young women through sport, particularly cross-country skiing. The program has become extremely popular across Canada and the US. Fast and Female hosts events led by athletic champions who serve as healthy role models and inspire girls to gain the confidence and leadership they need to reach their full potential in life and sports.

Crawford describes the popularity of the program and her opportunity to be involved as “a dream come true.” Crawford shared that she is currently scouting out post-secondary institutions and plans to continue her education with a leadership and business focus to complement her ambitions for Fast and Female.

Everyone at SkiTrax would like to wish Chandra all the best and thank her for the unforgettable experiences she has shared with us throughout her fantastic career.