June 19, 2013 (Park City, UT) – For once, I’m going to let the pictures do the talking! Here’s what we’ve been up to in Park City the past few days full of hiking, biking, swimming, pasta… and whole lot more.

March 20, 2013 (Fairbanks, Alaska) – Bert Boyer, Ph.D., who is a Professor of Molecular Biology, a Director at the Center for Alaska Native Health Research and Associate Director of Human Health, Institute of Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks is trying to raise money for NNF by selling his photos to parents and athletes – check out his great photos on his web site HERE.

February 08, 2013 (Sun Valley, ID) – Watch this highlight video courtesy of John Plummer and SV Resort, and check out some great photos by Nils Ribi from the Boulder Mountain Tour, the renowned 32km freestyle race and one of America’s longest running and most respected cross-country ski events. The video includes interviews with women’s winner Lauren Fritz (APU) and men’s champ Sylvan Ellefson (Vail Ski and Snowboard Club), as well as race action.

Results and more HERE.

January 10, 2013 (Soldier Hollow, UT) – Check out this great video with athlete interviews and exciting race footage from the final day of competition by Willy Graves at the 2013 U.S. National XC Championships held in Soldier Hollow, Jan. 2-8 – plus more great photos courtesy of Ian Harvey from TOKO.

January 09, 2013 (Thunder Bay, ON) – Here are some great photos from last weekend’s Haywood NorAm and U23/Junior trials, Jan. 5-6, at the Lappe Ski Centre in Thunder Bay as athletes made their bids for selection to the various upcoming World Championship teams. Results HERE. Read more about the races: Day 1 HERE, Day 2 HERE.

January 03, 2013 (Soldier Hollow, UT) – Here are some more great photos from the 2013 U.S. XC Ski Classic Sprint competitions at Soldier Hollow on January 2nd. Jennie Bender won the women’s crown, while Torin Koos snapped up the title in the men’s race. The 2013 U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships run Jan. 2, 4, 6 and 8. Day 1 report and results HERE.

April 12, 2012 (New York, NY) – On April 4, Kikkan Randall, her mother, Deborah, and brother, Tanner, hit up NYC with Randall’s FIS Crystal Globe in tow. Their reason for schlepping the globe in its big silver case to the Big Apple? Photo ops! TeamUSA.org was on hand to snap some great pics of the Crystal Globe, Randall, her family, and US XC Team member Liz Stephen in Times Square. Check out the fabulous photos HERE.

February 29, 2012 – SkiTrax caught up with the top men’s and women’s finishers after the biggest XC ski marathon in the U.S. – the American Birkebeiner in Cable, WI. Read race recaps from 50k FR winners Tad Elliott and Holly Brooks, as well as comments from runners-up Matt Liebsch and Caitlin Gregg.

Full results HERE.

Tad Elliott – 50km FR Men’s Winner
I was looking for a marathon to participate in on the weekend when the World Cup took a break and noticed that the American Birkie was the same weekend. It has been a dream of mine to win the Birkie but I was a little nervous about the travel back and forth from Europe. I asked my Dad what he thought and he was nervous about the travel as well saying it might be best to stay in Europe.

I asked my Mom what she thought about the travel and the Birkie. She got really excited and said that I should do it and make it happen. She raced the Kortelopet a few years ago and loved the atmosphere and racing in Wisconsin. Right then I knew I would be making the travel to WI.

I emailed Salomon asking if they could help me out getting to the Birkie and taking care of me while I was there. They booked my ticket, hotel room, entrance, and made sure I had transportation. The Salomon staff are my friends and also my support staff. Without the help of Bill Sterling, Josh Korn, Andy Gerlach, and Pete Zeller, I would not have been able to do as well as I did.

Zach Caldwell even came out to wax my skis for the race. He chooses all of my skis with Salomon and puts race grinds on them. The amount of testing and work he put into my skis for the Birkie was amazing. Without Zach, my results would not have been what they were. The overall support was absolutely incredible. I felt like it was a team effort for me to win, a lot of people worked very hard so I could have this opportunity. My dream came true.

The race itself was awesome. Huge thanks to the groomers who made the course a blast to ski on after all of the new snow. At the start, my track came together with another track and Morten Petterson and I were going to get pretty well acquainted – he slowed and let me in – classy guy. We laughed and the race was on.

My skis felt a little slow at first in the new cold snow. Once I hit “OO” [about the 1/2 way point] where Zach had tested my skis at 5 a.m. they sped up significantly. I could tell that had the best skis in the field – right when I needed them. A French skier and Nish [Graham Nishikawa] were off the front with a 1:07 lead at one point. I was stressed that we would not be able to bring it back. Matt Liebsch kept me in line and said that together we could bring it back, but not before 33km. True to his word, at 33km Matt and I worked together to bring them back.

After that, the paced slowed a little and I attacked with 11km to go and was able to get a gap alone. From then on I was committed to the finish. Across the lake, I kept looking back thinking that I would be caught with only 500 meters left in the race. Once I hit the wiskers in the finishing lanes and looked back, I knew I had won.

I celebrated pretty hard and was extremely happy. It was the perfect day for me. I was so pumped and I’m still stoked. At the finish I borrowed a stranger’s phone to call my parents. I don’t think I’ve heard my mom that excited in a while. She was really pleased.

The best moment of the day for me though was sharing the podium with two other Americans who are also my friends. I have stayed at both of their houses in the last month while training and racing. Just a rad experience all around.

——

Holly Brooks – 50km FR Women’s Winner
Today was awesome – I really couldn’t have wished for a better day. Just last week I remember hearing the race was “on the rocks” and amazingly, the conditions today were PERFECT. The temperature, the snow, the grooming. Heck, the sunshine even came out for the race finish – and of course the great spectators!

As for the race itself, there was a large group of women that skied together until “OO” – myself, Caitlin [Gregg], Nicole Deyong, Rebecca Dussault, and a Russian skier were taking turns at the front. Shortly thereafter I was taking a feed and Caitlin made a decisive move, weaving through skiers from the men’s elite wave.

I wanted to finish my GU so she lost me for a bit and I had to work to reel her back in. In the process, we gapped the rest of the girls. When I realized that we had a lead on the others, I told her and said that we should work together to make sure they didn’t catch us.  So we traded leads, pulling each other towards Hayward. It was a blast skiing the race with Caitlin – she’s a good friend and a great skater. Now we’ve each won the Birkie once!

I was leading off the lake and made the 90 degree corner onto Main Street… I had been in this situation before in 2009, only to be caught by Rebecca D at the line (2nd by an inch!). This year, I definitely had a flashback to the race three years ago, and I was determined to NOT lose the sprint!

I took the sprint by a hair but made sure to not “pull a Morilov” and celebrate before fully crossing the finish line!  Funny thing was that both my husband Rob, and Caitlin’s husband Brian, were waiting at the finish line to see who’s wife would win! Brian had a great race as well, landing third on the podium – a good day for the Gregg family!

All in all, I’m really glad that I made the trip out here to race the Birkie and I’m ecstatic that I can “check this off the list” after three years of jokes about my boot being too small or the fact that I shouldn’t have clipped my toenails that day!

Check out the Anchorage Daily News for a great story on the race.

——

Matt Liebsch – 50km FR Second
This was an amazing Birkie and I was so happy that I got to be on the podium with two of my best training partners and friends. There was great depth and it was a very competitive field this year at the Birkie.

I broke a pole this time at a very in-opportune time in the race. I knew we were getting to the point where moves were going to be made. Tad [Elliott] went off the front followed by Brian Gregg. I tried to get into the 3rd spot and put my pole between Lars [Flora] and myself and we both fell. Santiago Ocariz saw what happened and took his pole off and gave it to me. With that I was able to get back into the race.

The Birkie course was wonderful and it’s always a race where I strive to have one of my best results in. I want to thank all the volunteers, board members and people who work so hard to make this an amazing event. This year’s Birkie will be one of my most memorable!

——

Caitlin Gregg – 50km FR Second (defending champ)
The Birkie race was fantastic! It was a great way for me to test my fitness. The pace in the women’s race was very very slow for the first 30km. I was feeling great and only a few of the ladies were taking turns at the front so I decided to make a run for it. Holly [Brooks] was the only skier that followed and soon we were a few minutes off the front.

Holly and I worked together and maintained our gap until Main Street. The final sprint was awesome and we both skied our heart’s out. In the end Holly got me by 0.4 of a second. It was very close but also a ton of fun! Holly has been racing very well on the World Cup circuit and it was great to be able to ski with her so much during the race.

After the race I realized I had four bridesmaids in the Birkie this year and two were on the podium! The whole weekend of events was incredible and I am so happy that I get to share the Birkie experience with so many family members and close friends!

February 21, 2012 (Madison, WI) – Last weekend, CXC hosted the USSA SuperTour in Madison, WI, as part of the Madison Winter Festival. Saturday saw some of the top U.S. skiers contest a Classic Sprint competition, while Sunday was all about the USSA SuperTour Free Sprints. Natalia Naryshkina (CXC) and Jari Joutsen cleaned up in the women’s and men’s classic competition, while Sunday saw Jennie Bender (CXC) and Philip Furrer take top honours in the freestyle sprints on a 1km course under sunny skies.

Qualifications

Video streaming by Ustream

Finals

Video streaming by Ustream

Results

Saturday
Qualifier results HERE.
Women’s Classic heat results HERE.
Men’s Classic heat results HERE.

Sunday
Qualifier results HERE.
Heat results HERE.
Final results HERE.

More photos HERE.

January 20, 2012 (Whistler, BC) – Canadian Ski Team member Drew Goldsack suffered a mild concussion on Saturday when he crashed during the NorAm freestyle sprint races in Whistler. Due to his concussion, Goldsack has announced he will skip this weekend’s Western Canadian Champs in Canmore. Read his blog for the inside scoop on his crash…

Whistler… I Hope I Didn’t Brain My Damage

Ah Whistler, I have to say I saw these NorAm races going differently in my head movies.  (If you don’t get the ‘head movies’ reference, stop reading, go watch the movie Tropic Thunder, and report back.)

With the extended holiday break over, it was back to business last week with the continuation of the Haywood NorAm race series. The weekend also doubled as selection races for the U23/World Junior Championships so it was an exciting three days of racing with lots on the line! Props to the Alberta World Cup Academy crew who dominated the podium all weekend and managed to qualify a whopping SEVEN athletes for the WJr./U23 Champs., claiming nearly half of the available spots on the World Champs team! A huge part of this success is thanks to the incredibly hard working Academy coaches and technicians who put in long hours behind the scenes every weekend, ensuring that things run smoothly come race day.

The week kicked off with the 30k Pursuit on Thursday and it was a bit of a rough start. On the best of days a 30k is a challenge for my largely fast twitch muscles and despite feeling good on the first lap, the race quickly turned into a suffer fest for me. I blew up early in the race and spent the rest of the time trying to recover, not an ideal way to race a 30k!

Saturday however brought my bread and butter, the freestyle sprint.  The qualifying round went ok for me through heavy snow and on extremely soft tracks which made the course ski way harder than usual. I was feeling a bit sluggish from the 30k, but I also knew that my body would loosen up as the day went on. As expected, I began to feel better with each round and was very confident going into the final. The soft, deep snow made it extremely hard to pass, so a good start and energy conservation were key in order to have a good final push to the line. I started well and was in a good position on the final downhill coming into the stadium but just as I was about to start my attack, another skier went down and I tangled up with them.

Before I could react, my feet whipped out from under me at full speed and I rag-dolled to a stop. Ouch. As I lay there a little dazed, still trying to process what just happened, I took an inventory of my body and in the moment didn’t feel anything too seriously injured. In this case, the insult would come before the injury, my pole had somehow managed to break off at the handle and I was horrified to look down and see my very best pair of race skis shattered just in front of the binding.

Immediately, a feeling of loss that’s nearly impossible to explain to anyone who isn’t a high level ski racer, washed over me. The same pair of skis that faithfully carried me to numerous NorAm podiums and a 5^th place finish in Dusseldorf only a month before were now splintered and lying awkwardly twisted in the snow beneath me. It’ll be hard, if not impossible, to find a replacement for that pair of skis.

For a few more good shots of my crash caught by Jesse Winter, have a look here: Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3

Upon my return to the hotel that afternoon, the physical effects of the crash began to set in. I began to feel nauseous, drowsy and a headache was setting in. I knew I had hit my head but didn’t think it was anything serious. The next day I felt ok when I woke up save for some serious whiplash, a stiff shoulder and some new bruises, but as I began to move around I knew something wasn’t right. I started to feel nauseous again and my headache was getting worse… could it really be a concussion?

Am I now part of the hottest statistic in sports? I talked it over with the coaches and we decided that it was best to play it safe and sit the 15km classic as a precaution. Through the day my symptoms got worse and I utterly suffered through the twisty, stop and go van ride to the airport in Vancouver for my flight home.

After seeing our team doctor on Monday, I was diagnosed with a mild concussion. Brutal. Despite this setback, the word ‘mild’ left me optimistic that I would recover in time for the Western Canadian Champs being held at home in Canmore this weekend. However, I have been unable to train due to headaches and nausea and consequently my hopes to race this weekend have been dashed. I could insert any number of cliché’s here but the reality is plainly that luck has not been on my side so far this season. I guess as a small consolation, my many years spent as an athlete have certainly taught me how to be resilient and persevere…so persevere I will.

More great photos from Whistler NorAm weekend can be found on Angus Cockney’s Picasa album HERE.

Overheard:

“I suck at cooking” – Graham Nishikawa… good thing you’re getting married, Congrats man!

In the tape deck:

Artist: Andrew Bird, Track: Tenuousness

Artist: M83, Track: Midnight City

On the tube:

Andrew Bird performing Tenuosness live, incredible use of a looping pedal. If you don’t know what a looping pedal is, look it up, it’ll make you appreciate the video and song a whole lot more.

http://youtu.be/1sivcS6uvIg

This blog and other updates can also be found on www.drewgoldsack.ca

December 27, 2011 (Davos, Switzerland) – When the Canadian XC squad was in Davos for the FIS WCup earlier this month, new CCC sponsor One Way organized a photo shoot for the country’s top skiers. Check out the pics and put on your shades for the ones where the team is decked out in their “yellow flash” parkas!

December 21, 2011 – Send us photos of your team, your athletes and yourself wearing the Olympic Red Mittens so we can rally all Canadian sport fans around this great contest!

As winter holidays come around again, so do the iconic Olympic Red Mittens from the Hudson’s Bay Company. The COC wants people to show off their national pride and win a pair of these popular Christmas stocking stuffers. Canadians are already spotting Olympic Red Mittens everywhere.

From now until Jan. 1, the COC is inviting fans to post photos to our Facebook page or Tweet us @CDNOlympicTeam, using the hashtag #RedMittens with their photo of the Olympic Red Mittens. Fans spot Olympic Red Mittens, take a photo and we will choose the best picture to earn an official full-zip hoodie from the Canadian Olympic Team’s replica collection by the Hudson’s Bay Company.

Runners-up will claim a pair of Olympic Red Mittens for themselves.

November 23, 2011 (Sjusjoen, Norway) – Check out the gallery of photos below from this past weekend’s World Cup opening races in Sjusjoen, Norway, courtesy of  the USST’s Holly Brooks. The women of the USST had a historic weekend, with personal best results in individual distances races by Kikkan Randall (8th) and Liz Stephen (18th), and a historic ninth place in the women’s 4x5km relay (anchored by Brooks), equaling their performance in the World Championships in Oslo last year. While the US men couldn’t match the success of the women’s team, they put in some good hard efforts, including finishing 11th in the men’s 4x10km relay, and will be looking to move up the results in Kuusamo, Finland this weekend.

For Women’s Relay coverage, click HERE.
For Women’s 10km Free coverage, click HERE.

October 24, 2011 (Canmore, AB) – It’s been a busy fall season – as they all seem to be. The days are getting noticeably shorter, and the leaves are evacuating the trees faster than a herd of Elk leaving a meadow when surprised by a pack of dogs. Not that I’m complaining, after a great altitude training camp down under the Utah sun it was back home to Canada where I’ll get almost a month in the “true North strong and free” to finish off my “off season” preparations.

Whister Intensity Camp
A scant six days after returning from the thin Utah air it was time to pack the bags again and head to the lower elevations of the Whistler Valley for a quick and dirty intensity camp. Since it rained almost everyday – we did get pretty dirty – and most of the training we banged out was of the “quick” variety – as we accomplished 4 tough intensity sessions during the 6 day camp.

Whistler is one of the great places to train in Canada and I’m always so impressed with how many great trails there are coupled with the varied terrain of quiet paths and roads to rollerski make it a winner in my book. It was a wet week – but that’s what you get for training so close to the Pacific Ocean in early October and one can’t complain too much after we had 14 days in a row down in Utah with a two week “cold day high” of about 22 Celsius.

The idea for the camp was two-pronged. It was a great opportunity to have everyone together training – the World Cup team and the Senior Development Team – and also to make use of the lower elevation to really rev’ the engines high. While the workouts were tough – it was a great environment and the staff (Mike, Stef, Eric, Adam, Justin, Scott, and Hutchy) deserves a ton of credit for running a smooth and effective camp – not an easy task when there are roughly 20 athletes to look after.

Canmore, AB
I know people hear this too much – but damn Canmore’s sweet. After such a “camp heavy” autumn I’ve really appreciated being home in the Rockies the last couple weeks. I count myself pretty lucky to call this little mountain gem home.

It probably helps that this autumn has been a spectacular one. The weather really has outdone itself – most days are sunny or at least precipitation-free which makes the heavy load of training I’m doing so easy to accomplish.

I had a great Thanksgiving too – since I miss Christmas every year – I was pretty excited that my mom made the journey out West from Ontario to enjoy Thanksgiving with Chandra and I. She spoiled us – whipping up no less than 8 pies during her 6 day trip, an amazing Thanksgiving dinner – and no less than two dozen of the world’s best cinnamon buns. Thank god the training load is high – or else it could have been messy… It was great to catch up with her though – and I feel very thankful that I am able to see my family throughout the “off season” even though my schedule is so busy and they live 3000km away.

“Spray Drag” and Frozen Thunder
Kuhner (my good friend and AWCA coach) organized an uphill grind-fest running race this year to raise money for the AWCA – and he put my ugly mug on the poster (of me rocking a stash’). I just wanted to take an opportunity to say that they did a great job with the race – and it was a leg and lung buster. Hopefully they make it a tradition! Thanks guys – glad I could deliver too – Babs gave me a bit of a scare at the end!

The day of the 7.5km uphill running race coincided with a Canmore nouveau tradition of it’s own – Frozen Thunder. Yes, the name makes no real sense – but we can all agree that it sounds cool.

Two years ago we were fired up when the Canmore Nordic Centre announced it would provide a whopping 400m of snow for the plethora of Nordic enthusiasts to enjoy in mid-October. The excitement to ski in October for a Nordic racer is like the excitement of a “gizmoto” reader getting their paws on Apple’s latest creation – pure unabashed jubilation.

Thanks to the Canmore Nordic Centre who have kept the project growing – last fall it was a 1km loop and this year they doubled down to provide us with a great loop of 1.95km.

Check out the video link from the Globe and Mail HERE.

To be able to ski on good terrain, on good quality snow, starting mid-October is such a huge asset. I’m so thankful for the crew up there at the Canmore Nordic Centre – they are leaders in North America – and how cool is it that Canmore is the only place in North America that does this?! Awesome! Thanks guys!

Yes – Canmore has been sweet. I think I’m a bit nostalgic right now because in only 12 days I will embark on a 5.5 month odyssey overseas as another World Cup race season is upon us. I’m sure I’ll miss home – but I’m really enjoying the days here in Canada before we get things rolling.

I’m so excited to get over there and make it happen. We have a great team and most are feeling great heading into the season. I can’t wait to see what “Team Canada” can do this winter in all categories.

I mean hell, I wouldn’t mind playing a few more ditties’ on the ol’ air guitar – or seeing my teammates melt imaginary faces on their imaginary axes this winter – if you know what I mean.

September 13, 2011 (Ramsau, Germany) – Check out this artistic compilation of photos from the Norwegian Men’s XC Sprint Team’s 2011 training camp in Ramsau, Germany.

April 27, 2011 – The Olympic Museum has just launched a photo contest in conjunction with the temporary exhibition currently showing at The Olympic Museum! There are many prizes to be won including a VIP tour of The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. Other prizes include photo and/or video equipment. Please read the Group Rules on Flickr.

How do I take part?

It’s easy… take and share one or more photos that represent one or more of the Olympic values:

– Friendship through sport
– Respect through sport
– Excellence through sport

Participate in the contest HERE.

Please note that, on a regular basis and for a limited period of time, a random selection of photos submitted for the contest will be featured in the HOPE temporary exhibition at The Olympic Museum in Lausanne.

Contest dates: 31 March to 15 September 2011.

Good luck!

Learn more about the Hope exhibition HERE.

April 11, 2011 (Rovaniemi, Finland) – Here are more great photos from this past weekend’s 2011 Tour de Barents won by Petra Majdic (SLO) and Jean-Marc Gaillard (FRA). The event featured amazing racing with Gaillard winning the tour by only 0.2s over teammate Maurice Manificat. The tour also held an emotional and historical component, as it marked the retirement of Slovenian star Majdic, along with Pirjo Muranen (FIN) and Jaak Mae (EST).

Read more HERE.

March 24, 2011 – You have 7 more days to upload your best photo for a chance to win! Upload your XC, snowshoeing and backcountry ski pics to WIN the $1450 Ultimate Nordic Winter Getaway in BC from Tourism Whistler! There’s still time to vote for your faves and help give away the 2nd Prize: The Yeti Snowshoe and Silver Star XC Weekend Warrior Combo Pack. Click HERE to enter.

We’re going deep in the prize bag and still giving away daily prizes during this last week. Join us on Facebook for updates and prize announcements! Does your photo got what it takes to win? Click HERE to check out the competition. Contest deadline: March 31, 2011.

UPCOMING EVENTS
– Vancouver Island Loppet at Mount Washington: March 26
– North American Biathlon Championships at WOP: March 31-April 3
– Retro Day at Silver Star Mountain Resort: April 2
– 3rd Annual 30k Woppet at Ski Callagan: April 9
– Spring Fling at Ski Callaghan: April 30

For more upcoming events visit the BC Nordic event calendar HERE throughout the winter season.

CHECK IT OUT

Sparkling Hill Masters World Cup: Race Photos
By all accounts the Masters World Cup at Sovereign Lake was a huge success! Click HERE to view the race photos. If you’re interested in competing next year, the 2012 MWC will be hosted in Oberwiesenthal, Germany.

Backcountry Beckons
There are miles of off-track trails to explore in BC during the spring season and backcountry skiing is a great alternative outdoor experience. Backcountry and Nordic ski touring equipment and hut rentals are available at many Nordic facilities and resorts. The backcountry ski season typically lasts until May and even June at some locations.

Bulkley Valley Nordic Centre operates two backcountry huts Starr Creek Cabin (1400m) and Harold Price Cabin (1600m). These cabin rentals are very affordable at $5-12/pp .The Bulkley Valley area near Smithers, BC is surrounded by mountains and known for its plentiful backcountry offerings.

Dakota Ridge Winter Recreation Area on the Sunshine Coast is a 1,532 acre winter playground that not only offers XC ski trails but also an abundance of backcountry terrain. Check out a quirky extreme snowshoeing video HERE shot at Tetrahedron Provincial Park.

You’ll need a few days to fully explore the 98km off-track trails at Larch Hills XC Ski Area. The trails also run through portions of the Shuswap’s Violet Creek Provincial Park. Click HERE for more info.

Explore Vancouver Island backcountry with Strathcona Nordic’s guide Andrew Pape-Salmon. He’s hosting two upcoming trips: March 27 at Mount Cokely and April 17 at Mount Albert Edward. Click HERE for detailed trip information. Mount Washington also offers daily guided off piste backcountry ski tour options.

Rossland, BC is world famous for its deep powder snow and lures backcountry skiers from around the world. Click HERE to download the Black Jack Nordic Trail and backcountry map. Sun Peaks Resort offers a 14.3 km of backcountry Nordic trail system along with the comforts and amentites of a full-service resort.

The Callaghan Valley, with 4,500 hectare terrain and high vertical drops is a prime backcountry ski touring destination in the Southern Coast Mountain Range. Start your tour from Callaghan Country lodge. A Backcountry Access Pass is only $10.

FRESH DEALS
Spring is in full swing and the ski conditions have never been better! Looking for a spring Nordic getaway? Check out these offers. Get to know other Nordic ski areas and resorts in BC and find out what makes them great.

Spring XC Skiing on the Sunshine Coast
There’s still time to get in some XC skiing and snowshoeing at Dakota Ridge. Take advantage of special deals at B&Bs and cottages before the mid-season rates kick in. A family day pass is a bargain at $20. Click HERE for deals.

Ski Callaghan Spring Specials until April 3
Ski Callaghan is offering sweet deals for the entire family: XC ski lessons, snowshoe tours and the ever popular “Biathlon Experience” sessions. Click HERE for Callaghan specials.

Snowshoeing Hotspot – Otway Nordic Ski Centre
There’s plenty of snow at Otway Nordic Centre this season! Over 10km snowshoe trails to explore on varied terrain, easy to advanced. Trail pass only $6. Otway’s spring hours are 8:30am until 9:30pm.

ASK THE EXPERT

Common Nordic Skiing Injuries
by: Sophia Sauter Registered Physiotherapist, Active Life Physiotherapy

Cross-country skiing is a sport with a very low incidence of injuries due to its low impact nature, however some of us may have endured some injuries during the ski season or inadvertently aggravated pre-existing conditions. Approximately 75% of injuries sustained by Nordic skiers are a result of overuse due to the repetitive nature of skiing, while the remaining 25% are a result of trauma. The following outlines some common injuries and appropriate treatment.

Traumatic Injuries (25%), for example: Ankle sprain; Thumb sprain; Knee ligament sprain; Groin muscle strain; Wrist sprain. The recommended treatment is RICE: Relative rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Then, slowly restore range of motion, strength, proprioception and power. It’s best to see a physiotherapist to obtain a proper diagnosis and set of rehabilitative exercises.

Overuse Injuries (75%), for example: Knee pain (patellofemoral, ITBand); Compartment syndrome (shins); Achilles tendinopathy; Rotator cuff tendinopathy (shoulder); Low back pain. The recommened treatment is a bit different. In these cases it’s important to correct muscle imbalance (e.g. tight/weak), equipment faults, and possible training errors. Seek medical advice from a physiotherapist or other qualified health professional specializing in injuries common to Nordic skiers.

Of course, the best treatment for any injury is prevention. This means utilizing appropriate training progressions, maintaining physical strength, balance, flexibility, adopting appropriate recovery techniques, and treating any lingering individual malalignments/weaknesses/imbalances.

Check in with a physiotherapist for full body analysis to identify individual mechanical inadequacies. Also consider an athlete specific core stability and functional strength program. Think about dealing with your injuries now so you can start your next season off right!

Sophia Sauter is a Registered Physiotherapist at Active Life Physiotherapy in North Vancouver. Sophia is also a Clinical Instructor, Department of Physical Therapy at UBC, and is an avid Nordic skier and runner.

Learn more about Active Life Physiotherapy HERE.

March 21, 2011 (Oslo, Norway) – Check out this great photo gallery of the action, drama, and emotion at Sunday’s Mass Start event, the final IBU World Cup of the season, in Oslo, Norway. Darya Domracheva (BLR) won the women’s 10km race – more here – while Emil Hegle Svendsen (NOR) took top honours in the men’s competition – more here.

March 21, 2011 (Canmore, AB) – Here are some more great photos from Saturday’s Junior and Juvenile races at the 2011 Haywood Ski Nationals in Canmore, AB.

March 04, 2011 – Check out this fantastic collection of Oslo 2011 photos with emphasis on men’s team sprint winners Canada’s Devon Kershaw and Alex Harvey. The Toronto Star photo gallery features lots of pics of Kershaw and Harvey, including their famous “air guitar” celebration pic. Click HERE to view the slideshow.

February 16, 2011 (Edmonton, AB) – Here are some great photos from this past weekend’s Canadian Birkie near Edmonton, courtesy of Cam McGregor, where nearly 2,000 participants threw on the boards for the 2011 edition. Skiers were greeted by sunny skies, and warm conditions, with temperatures reaching 5C – for the story and results, click HERE.