Talkin’ With the Gravy Train Interview with Pierre Harvey

Peter Graves

January 24, 2014 – In this edition of Talkin’ With The Gravy Train, host Peter Graves speaks with Canadian Nordic ski legend Pierre Harvey, father of 25-year-old XC ski star Alex Harvey, who is poised to make his mark at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games in February.

Harvey, 56, who was born in Rimouski, QC, continues to be one of North America’s greatest cross-country champions. He was on three Olympic teams, and made history in 1984 by being the first Canadian to be on both a Summer and Winter Olympic Team, for cycling and cross-country skiing. He also took part in the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary.

Father and son...Alex (l) and Pierre Harvey © Gestev

During his career, he had three World Cup wins and was most notable perhaps for his victory in the grueling 50km race at Oslo’s famed Holmenkollen in 1988. His son Alex won Team Sprint gold with Devon Kershaw in 2011, Canada’s first Nordic Worlds gold medal, at the same hallowed venue.

Pierre will be in Sochi covering another Olympic Games as a cross-country skiing commentator, and will be watching his son Alex compete at his second Games.

Harvey at Vancouver 2010 © skitrax.com

In this interview Pierre talks about his son’s only goal in Sochi – to be on the podium – and tells Peter what he will and won’t say by way of advice to Alex, gained from his own experience racing at the highest level. Harvey Sr. reveals that the Canadian squad is currently training in northern Italy in the same place he used to train with the team back in the day. He reflects on his own experiences competing and shares his favourite Olympic moments along with his positive feelings about the growth of the sport in North America.

Pierre Harvey on the cover of the very first issue of SkiTrax back in Dec. 1990 © skitrax.com

Pierre is the definition of both elite sportsman and gentleman, and his easy going nature and humble attitude have made him nothing short of a beloved figure in the sport. “It was a pleasure to speak with him,” says Graves.

Alex Harvey on the cover of the Spring 2011 edition of SkiTrax. © skitrax.com

We were honoured to have Pierre on the cover of the very first issue of SkiTrax back in December 1990 and Alex graced the cover in Spring 2011 following his gold medal performance with Kershaw. It goes without saying that we look forward to more Harvey milestones and SkiTrax covers down the road. – ed

Pierre Harvey

 

 

4 Comments For This Post

1. parham, , says:
   January 24th, 2014 at 8:43 pm

   Pierre Harvey is undoubtedly one of North America’s greatest cross country skiing champions! Pierre is the first male Canadian male Winter-Summer Olympian.

   However, it is Sue Holloway, another great Olympian, who was the first Canadian: 1976 Winter Olympics in cross-country skiing and 1976 Summer Olympics in canoe sprint. Also, in 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, Sue Holloway won two medals in canoe sprint.

   reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sue_Holloway

2. Editor, Ontario, Canada says:
   January 25th, 2014 at 9:45 am

   Hi Parnham,

   Thanks for the clarification and our sincere apologies, as indeed Sue Holloway was the first Canadian to compete in both Olympics as you noted, competing in cross-country skiing at the 1976 Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria and again in the canoe sprint at the Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, that same year. Harvey became the first Canadian man to do so in 1984 in cross-country skiing at Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (now Bosnia-Herzegovina) and then in cycling at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA, where Holloway further distinguished herself, as you indicated, by winning canoe sprint silver and bronze medals.

   Regards,
   Benjamin

3. parham, , says:
   January 25th, 2014 at 1:08 pm

   Hey Benjamin,

   Pierre and Sue are both incredible Ambassadors and role models for participation in our sport.

   As a Canadian Ski Marathon (CSM) skier, I have had the good fortune of being in the same event with these great Olympians who come and ski with us, when they get the time, and encourage broad participation in our sport, not least by skiing with “citizen skiers” and very young Jackrabbits alike and encouraging them as they ski along.

   By the way, Pierre Harvey has a CSM permanent bib #271 (5 times Gold Coureur des Bois, skiing 160km, camping overnight, carrying all gear) and Sue Holloway, skied in the first CSM in 1967, is coming to the 2014 CSM Fast and Female Champ Camp this year inspiring our young athletes and future champs!

   Thanks for the interesting article and interview!

   Parham

4. ascheier, , says:
   January 25th, 2014 at 1:52 pm

   Hi Benjamin.
   It should be pointed out that Alain Masson, the present Yukon ski team coach, also raced in the cycling road race in 1984 with Pierre Harvey, helping Steve Bauer to a silver medal for Canada. Alain was on the National Ski Team at that time and competing very well in both sports.

   In 1988 Alain was a member of the team at the Calgary Olympics and competed in the 50k to also join the elite group of Canadian Summer and Winter Olympians (mainly skiers….) and Clara Hughes, who has picked up medals at both.

   Toni

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