March 05, 2011 (Vernon, BC) – Just as he opened the 2010 Olympics, Chief Fabien Alexis welcomed 1,134 athletes from 22 countries to the 2011 Sparkling Hill Masters World Cup which runs March 5-11. Participants paraded behind their flags at Silver Star Resort where the ceremonies were held. They were welcomed with singing, drumming and dancing by the Okanagan Indian Band which also sang during the opening ceremonies at the Vancouver Olympics.

There is much excitement as six days of racing are about to start. Participants spoke favorably about the courses. “We skied the 15km – it’s a good course,” said Dave Rees, former director of Cross Country Canada who is here supporting his wife Jean.

The tracks are set with 21 lanes and conditions are good, with a temperature of minus six, much better than the minus 18 degrees experienced last week by volunteers as they were setting up for these championships. Countless volunteer hours behind the scenes have led to Sovereign Lake hosting this event. Preparation of the event started five years ago when the bid was put in.

Racers are in good spirits  as the first competitions begin on Saturday. The WCup racing takes place daily from Mar. 5-11 from 9am to 3pm each day, with Tues. Mar. 8 being a rest day. The Sovereign Lake Loppet wraps the weekend up on Mar. 12. Full schedule below or visit www.mwc2011.com

Check out this pre-race video interview featuring two masters skiers from Alaska and stay tuned to SkiTrax for daily coverage of the events.

Master WCup 2011 Race Schedule

Saturday, March 5 – Medium Distance – Free Technique
– 30 km (2 x 15) Men 01-06 (age 30-59)
– 15 km (1 x 15) Men 07-09 (age 60-74)
– 10 km (2 x 5) Men 10-12 (age 75+)
– 15 km (1 x 15) Women 01-08 (age 30-69)
– 10 km (2 x 5) Women 09-12 (age 70+)
– Team Captains Meeting 5 pm
– Awards Ceremony 6 pm

Sunday, March 6 – Medium Distance – Classic
– 30 km (2 x 15) Men 01-06 (age 30-59)
– 15 km (1 x 15) Men 07-09 (age 60-74)
– 10 km (2 x 5) Men 10-12 (age 75+)
– 15 km (1 x 15) Women 01-08 (age 30-69)
– 10 km (2 x 5) Women 09-12 (age 70+)
– Team Captains Meeting 5 pm
– Awards Ceremony 6 pm

Monday, March 7 – Short Distance – Classic
– 10 km (1 x 10) Men 01-09 (age 30-74)
– 5 km (1 x 5) Men 10-12 (age 75+)
– 10 km (1 x 10) Women 01-08 (age 30-69)
– 5 km (1 x 5) Women 09-12 (age 70+)
Short Distance – Free Technique
– 10 km (1 x 10) Men 01-09 (age 30-74)
– 5 km (1 x 5) Men 10-12 (age 75+)
– 10 km (1 x 10) Women 01-08 (age 30-69)
– 5 km (1 x 5) Women 09-12 (age 70+)
– Awards Ceremony 6 pm
– Mountain Film Festival 7 pm Vernon (see Events Page HERE)

March 8 – Rest Day
– WMA Meeting 9 am (NATC at Silver Star)
– Team Captains Meeting following WMA meeting
– Check out region page HERE for exciting touring events

March 9 – Relays
– Relays 4 x 5km (legs 1 & 2 Classic, legs 3 & 4 Free technique) – Men and Women
– Team Captains Meeting 5 pm
– Awards Ceremony 6 pm

March 10 – Long Distance – Free Technique
– 45 km (3 x 15) Men 01-06 (age 30-59)
– 30 km (2 x 15) Men 07-09 (age 60-74)
– 15 km ((3 x 5) Men 10-12 (age 75+)
– 30 km (2 x 15) Women 01-08 (age 30-69)
– 15 km (3 x 5) Women 09-12 (age 70+)
– Team Captains Meeting 5 pm
– Awards Ceremony 6 pm

March 11 – Long Distance – Classic
– 45 km (3 x 15) Men 01-06 (age 30-59)
– 30 km (2 x 15) Men 07-09 (age 60-74)
– 15 km ((3 x 5) Men 10-12 (age 75+)
– 30 km (2 x 15) Women 01-08 (age 30-69)
– 15 km (3 x 5) Women 09-12 (age 70+)
– Awards Ceremony 3 pm
– Banquet and closing ceremony 6:30 pm (Wesbild Centre, Vernon)

March 12 – Sovereign Lake Loppet – Free Technique – 30km, 15km
Sovereign Lake Loppet (see Sovereign Lake Loppet HERE and Register for the Loppet HERE)
– Mass start at 10 am.
– Awards ceremony at Sovereign Lake following end of race. Registration closes Wed March 9

January 07, 2011 (Toronto, ON) – We are pleased to announce the standings after Toblach-Cortina for the SkiTrax Fantasy FIS Tour de Ski 2010/11 Contest. The current contest leader is jbskiin with 597 points and a very narrow two (2) point margin over 17 teams, all tied for second place with 575 points. Team les pitchounes is now ranked third with 572 points.

Congratulations to jbskiin the winner of our second Rest Day prize of a $100 $100 Gift Certificate to High Peaks Cyclery.

SkiTrax Fantasy FIS TdS 2010/11 Contest Prizes
—————————————————–

*1st Prize – Rossignol Xium WCS2 skis/boots, Xcelerator skate bindings, One Way DS 10 poles (value $1,620)
*2nd Prize – Mont Ste-Anne – 2 nights lodging w/breakfast + 3-day XC gift certificate, tune-up (value $800)
*3rd Prize – Atomic WCup Classic boots (value $370)
*4th Prize – Swix Digital T72 Iron (value $350)
*5th Prize – Halti Blow Down two-piece race suit (value $270)
*6th Prize – Sparkling Hill Masters World Cup 2011 jacket (value $200)
*7th Prize – Sporthill Women’s Summit top (value $140)
*8th Prize – Rottefella Xcelerator Skate/Classic Bindings (value $130)
*9th Prize – Skadi Package – BootBuddies, BootMates, BootDocks and Ski Scraper (value $90)
*10th Prize – Auclair Micro Mountain Olympic Gloves + Earbags (value $65)

Rest Day Leader Prizes
*Jan. 4 – $100 Gift Certificate Fresh Air Experience
*Jan. 7 – $100 Gift Certificate High Peaks Cyclery

Thanks to FIS and all of our great sponsors including Rossignol, Mont Ste-Anne, Atomic, Swix, Halti, Masters World Cup 2011, Sporthill, Rottefella, Skadi, Auclair, Fresh Air Experience and High Peaks Cyclery….

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).

December 26, 2010 (Toronto, ON) – With over $4,000 in prizes up for grabs team registration is well underway for the third annual international SkiTrax FIS Fantasy Tour de Ski 2010 Contest for contestants around the world. The 2010/11 Viessmann FIS Tour de Ski performance by Craft Sportswear begins very soon – Dec. 31-Jan. 9 – so don’t miss your chance to win fabulous prizes while following the amazing showdown as the world’s top xc skiers battle for glory over 10 days, in 8 races, at 4 venues starting in Germany and ending in Italy.

Here’s how the FIS Tour de Ski 2010/11 Contest works
Register your team of four (4) men, and four (4) women including two (2) Outlaw Skiers (one male and one female) not in the top 15 of the FIS World Cup overall rankings. The menus for all skiers are at registration as well as a link to the FIS World Cup Ranking where you can find more details on each skier.

Deadlines, Points, Prizes
The deadline to register your FIS Tour de Ski 2010/11 team, or to make any changes, is 10pm EST on Dec. 30 – the day before the TdS launches. Earn bonus points such as Kick and Glide or Val Climb Points along with other opportunities to score points – all contest rules and information are available at TdS registration.

Points will be awarded following each TdS stage based on each skier’s performance and published regularly at skitrax.com so you can follow your team’s progress and see how you compare with the actual TdS standings and other players.

Register HERE.

SkiTrax Fantasy FIS TdS 2010/11 Contest Prizes
—————————————————–
*1st Prize – Rossignol Xium WCS2 skis/boots, Xcelerator skate bindings, One Way DS 10 poles (value $1,620)
*2nd Prize – Mont Ste-Anne – 2 nights lodging w/breakfast + 3-day XC gift certificate, tune-up (value $800)
*3rd Prize – Atomic WCup Classic boots (value $370)
*4th Prize – Swix Digital T72 Iron (value $350)
*5th Prize – Halti Blow Down two-piece race suit (value $270)
*6th Prize – Sparkling Hill Masters World Cup 2011 jacket (value $200)
*7th Prize – Sporthill Women’s Summit top (value $140)
*8th Prize – Rottefella Xcelerator Skate/Classic Bindings (value $130)
*9th Prize – Skadi Package – BootBuddies, BootMates, BootDocks and Ski Scraper (value $90)
*10th Prize – Auclair Micro Mountain Olympic Gloves + Earbags (value $65)

Rest Day Leader Prizes
*Jan. 4 – $100 Gift Certificate Fresh Air Experience
*Jan. 7 – $100 Gift Certificate High Peaks Cyclery

Thanks to FIS and all of our great sponsors including Rossignol, Mont Ste-Anne, Atomic, Swix, Halti, Masters World Cup 2011, Sporthill, Rottefella, Skadi, Auclair, Fresh Air Experience and High Peaks Cyclery….

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

December 22, 2010 (Toronto, ON) – We pleased to announce that the third annual international SkiTrax FIS Fantasy Tour de Ski 2010 Contest is now live for team registration for contestants around the world with over $4,000 in prizes up for grabs. This year the Tour de Ski runs from Dec. 31. to Jan. 9 with the first event in Oberhof, Germany.

Here’s how the FIS Tour de Ski 2010/11 Contest works
Register your team of four (4) men, and four (4) women including two (2) Outlaw Skiers (one male and one female) not in the top 15 of the FIS World Cup overall rankings. The menus for all skiers are at registration as well as a link to the FIS World Cup Ranking where you can find more details on each skier.

Deadlines, Points, Prizes
The deadline to register your FIS Tour de Ski 2010/11 team, or to make any changes, is 10pm EST on Dec. 30 – the day before the TdS launches. Earn bonus points such as Kick and Glide or Val Climb Points along with other opportunities to score points – all contest rules and information are available at TdS registration.

Points will be awarded following each TdS stage based on each skier’s performance and published regularly at skitrax.com so you can follow your team’s progress and see how you compare with the actual TdS standings and other players.

Register HERE.

SkiTrax Fantasy FIS TdS 2010/11 Contest Prizes
—————————————————–
*1st Prize – Rossignol Xium WCS2 skis/boots, Xcelerator skate bindings, One Way DS 10 poles (value $1,620)
*2nd Prize – Mont Ste-Anne – 2 nights lodging w/breakfast + 3-day XC gift certificate, tune-up (value $800)
*3rd Prize – Atomic WCup Classic boots (value $370)
*4th Prize – Swix Digital T72 Iron (value $350)
*5th Prize – Halti Blow Down two-piece race suit (value $270)
*6th Prize – Sparkling Hill Masters World Cup 2011 jacket (value $200)
*7th Prize – Sporthill Women’s Summit top (value $140)
*8th Prize – Rottefella Xcelerator Skate/Classic Bindings (value $130)
*9th Prize – Skadi Package – BootBuddies, BootMates, BootDocks and Ski Scraper (value $90)
*10th Prize – Auclair Micro Mountain Olympic Gloves + Earbags (value $65)

Rest Day Leader Prizes
*Jan. 4 – $100 Gift Certificate Fresh Air Experience
*Jan. 7 – $100 Gift Certificate High Peaks Cyclery

Thanks to FIS and all of our great sponsors including Rossignol, Mont Ste-Anne, Atomic, Swix, Halti, Masters World Cup 2011, Sporthill, Rottefella, Skadi, Auclair, Fresh Air Experience and High Peaks Cyclery….

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