March 12, 2013 (Whistler, BC) – From March 15-30 of 2013 Whistler Olympic Park (WOP) will host the “Sea to Sky Nordic Festival,” a ski event that will exceed the size and scope of the nordic events of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The Festival is comprised of the National Ski Championships in the four nordic disciplines of cross-country, biathlon, ski jumping and nordic combined and will welcome hundreds of athletes to the Sea to Sky community.

Haywood Ski Nationals... © CCC

For the first time in Canadian history, the four disciplines’ championships will be carried out together at one venue. The spectacular winter season finale will bring over 800 athletes in attendance. In February of 2010 there were just over 600 competitors in the four Olympic disciplines; the Festival will host 600 athletes in the cross-country competition alone. The Festival will include 111 medal events- more than four times the number from the Olympics- with 60 events in cross-country (including 12 para nordic events), 40 in biathlon and 11 in ski jumping and nordic combined.

Spectators can look forward to top-class performances much like the 2010 Winter Games and what is expected at Sochi 2014. “Canada’s elite athletes will be competing in each discipline. It is anticipated that cross-country World Champions Alex Harvey and Devon Kershaw, para nordic Gold medallist Brian McKeever, Canada’s biathlon star Scott Gow,  and rising stars like female ski jumper Atsuko Tanaka will be competing,” promises John Heilig, Sport Manager at WOP.  Not to be missed are the senior and open men and women’s classes which will include National team athletes, world cup winners, and world championship medalists. Mark your calendars for the biathlon sprint and pursuit events March 16 and 17; the cross-country individual sprint March 28; and the large hill ski jumping competition on March 30th. If you can’t make it out to WOP to check out the action live, race results can be found on the event website HERE.

Access for spectators is free throughout the competition, and designated spectator viewing areas have been established for each event (please note that dogs are not permitted in event and spectator areas). Carpooling is recommended as parking availability will be limited as a result of the scope of the event.

Avid nordic enthusiast or snowshoer? Almost  90 percent of the venue’s 90 kilometers of cross-country trails and over 30 kilometers of snowshoeing trails will remain open for the public during the event from 9:00am- 4:30pm daily (weekends 8:30am-4:30pm). For specific trail closures and recommended alternate routes click HERE.

For more information on the event and volunteer opportunities click HERE.

Schedule & Race Information: Sea to Sky Nordic Festival

2013 North American and Canadian Biathlon Championships:
March 15 – 20, 2013

2013 Haywood Ski Nationals:
March 23 – 30, 2013

2013 Aviva Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Nationals:
March 28 – 30, 2013

More info and event schedule HERE.

About Whistler Olympic Park
Whistler Olympic Park is operated by Whistler Sport Legacies, a non-profit organization responsible for Whistler Olympic Park, the Whistler Sliding Centre, and the Whistler Athletes’ Centre.  Each facility plays a unique role in inspiring sport excellence for the benefit of athletes, residents, and visitors.  Participation in WOP’s recreational activities helps support the growth of Nordic sport in the Sea to Sky corridor.  For more information, visit whistlerolympicpark.com and facebook.com/whistlerolympicpark.

About Ski Callaghan
Ski Callaghan is a joint venture between Whistler Olympic Park and Callaghan Country Wilderness Adventures to offer Nordic enthusiasts one pass at one price for endless recreation.  Ski Callaghan is now North America’s most extensive Nordic experience!