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Co-editors: Chris Dornan, Cathy Sturgeon, and Barb Cartier |
February 2011 |
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| PARTNERS AND SPONSORS |
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Funding Partners:
- Sport Canada
- Own the Podium
- Jemini Foundation
- National Cross Country Ski
Development Association
Gold Partners: |
Silver Partners:
Podium Partners:
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NEW to the
E-Store -
Halti Kadenwood Jackets
A small selection of men's and women's Halti Kadenwood jackets are available through the
E-Store.
Product development combined with the feedback of cross-country professionals has resulted in this excellent product. The high-tech, stylish softshell jacket is ideal for cross-country skiing, but it can also be used from jogging and cycling in cold weather - suitable for year round activity. |
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Cross Connections
The days are starting to get longer, and Mother Nature is sending snow in all directions across Canada.
February has a lot in store for all our cross-country athletes including the Canada Games, Western and Eastern Championships, the IPC World Cups, and the illustrious World Championships.
We hope you get out for lots of great skiing and also take the time to watch a few races, either in your home town or on the TV or internet to catch a few World Championship races.
Best of luck to all our Canadian athletes! CCC is happy to announce the introduction of the French newsletter which will be sent out this month! Happy reading everyone! Barb Cartier Assistant Administrator |
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Statoil Employee Ski Day Sets New Participation Record credit: Wanda Bogdane
Saturday February 12 saw a record number of participants attend a CCC-hosted employee family ski day for Statoil. With more than 200 people in attendance, participants enjoyed cross country ski lessons from a variety of core CCC staff, executives, volunteers and athletes at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
Statoil is a key sponsor of CCC's junior athletes and in honour of that, Michaela Howie made the trip from Whistler for the festivities and Russell Kennedy joined the event after winning a gold medal in Saturday morning's Bow Corridor Race.
"To give back to one of our program's sponsors while being on the snow with them is perfect. It was great to be a part of it all and I couldn't believe all of the smiling faces around!" said Howie.
National Ski Team member George Grey was in attendance, as was Two-time Olympic medallist, Beckie Scott. Scott gave a presentation on the Heroes of Tomorrow program that she assists Statoil implement; a program designed to inspire Canadian youth to try cross country skiing and maximize their potential. Along with Scott, Andrew Urton who coordinates the Ski Fit North program for Statoil was also a guest coach and lunchtime presenter. Ski Fit North helps recruit and retain children to the sport of cross-country skiing.
Statoil is a gold-medal partner of Cross Country Canada and on behalf of all at CCC, a warm thanks to all who made the trip out!
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Alex Harvey Wins Silver Medal in World Cup Sprint in Drammen, Norway
Alex Harvey took his turn to sprint onto the World Cup podium for
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photo credit: NordicFocus |
the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team after winning the silver medal in a skate-sprint race in Drammen, Norway on Sunday.
Battling fatigue after a hard bout of training, the 22-year-old Harvey, of St-Ferr�ol-les-Neiges, Que., qualified for the round of 30 in the head-to-head heats in 22nd spot. The 2010 Olympian slugged his way through the quarter-finals, conserving his energy while advancing through the heats with the top-two until the final stage where he executed his strategy perfectly to post his best-ever World Cup result.
World Cup rookie, Len Valjas of Toronto, took advantage of a fourth-place qualifying time to finish in ninth spot for his best-ever finish. Full article |
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Canada's Mark Arendz Captures Second IPC Biathlon World Cup Victory of Season
SOLLEFTEA, Swe.-Canada's Mark Arendz captured his second IPC World Cup victory of the season, and his career after winning the gold medal in a biathlon sprint race on Tuesday in Solleftea, Sweden.
Arendz shot clean to post a winning time of 22 minutes, 26.2 seconds in a race that he dominated from start-to-finish. Eager to hit the start line after a solid training session, the Springton, P.E.I. native battled the challenging course loaded with several long, steep and punishing climbs, to lead the world's best para-nordic skiers to the podium in the men's standing division.
The 20-year-old Canadian Paralympian has racked up two gold, one silver and two bronze medals during the 2010-11 season. He also has two bronze medals from the 2010 campaign under his belt to bring his career-total to seven.
Jody Barber, of Smithers, B.C., was the only other Canadian to suit up on Tuesday and finished fourth in the women's 7.5-kilometre sprint standing category with a time of 29:59.2. Full article
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World Ski Championships, Oslo, Norway February 23 - March 6, 2011 credit: Toni Scheier 
http://www.oslo2011.no/en/ Race start times CET time (6 hours ahead of Eastern Time) http://www.fiscrosscountry.com/oslo-2011/program.html TV Video Coverage Video coverage of the races can typically be found at: http://www.fromsport.com/c-11.html or http://myp2p.eu/competition.php?competitionid=&part=sports&discipline=other Sometimes additional software must be downloaded to view the feed. Live Internet Commentary: http://twitter.com/xcwclive Live Timing: http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/disciplines/live-timing/live-cross-country.html FIS Twitter Feed with Race Updates: http://twitter.com/fiscrosscountry Post Race Highlight Video: http://www.fiscrosscountry.com/multimedia/race-video.html |
Former National Team Coach  Develops Nordic Academy in Rossland, BC credit: Wannes Luppens
Dave Wood, former head coach of Canada's National Ski Team, has developed a new Nordic Academy in Rossland, BC for athletes grade 8-12 with the assistance of Black Jack Ski Club and Red Mountain Academies.
Upcoming skiers will be able to take advantage of this unique program blending state-of-the-art coaching and flexible academics. Originally created for alpine ski racers, Red Mountain Academies has expanded to 5 different sports and includes dryland training, physiotherapy, nutrition and psychological training - all without forcing students to give up their regular education.
Dave Wood is recognized worldwide for Canada's unprecedented results over the past decade. After a successful 2010 Olympics, Dave is now head coach of Black Jack Ski Club.
The Nordic Academy will begin in July 2011 with an extensive dryland program, in preparation for local, provincial and national ski competition. Athletes will attend Rossland Secondary School with flexible and innovative educational tools that work with their unique schedule.
Interested athletes, please visit www.redskiacademy.com.
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Para-Nordic Profile: Integration of sit-skis in the "Ski in the Schoolyard program" of elementary schools in Lanaudi�re, QC credit: Tom Silletta
For the past five winters the Commission Scolaire des Samares which is located in Quebec`s Lanaudi�re region has been offering a program to initiate its grade 5 and 6 students to cross-country skiing. A certified instructor arrives at the school with a trailer filled with 30 pairs of skis, boots and poles as well as a multitude of educational tools such as cones, hoops, balls and parachutes. After a brief explanation of the equipment in the gymnasium, the students receive a 60-90 minute ski lesson in their schoolyard. The ski instructor delivers and co-ordinates the technical aspect of the lesson and the classroom or physical education teacher helps with the group dynamics, disciplinary and logistical aspects of the lesson. The emphasis is placed on ski control, agility, co-ordination and fun group drills and games.
This winter two sit skis (model CXC SKI) have been added to the equipment in the ski trailer. The objective is to make the sport of cross-country skiing accessible to students with physical disabilities. In the safety of their schoolyard, which is decorated with cones hoops and flags, all students in the class can enjoy our wonderful sport regardless of physical ability level.
Full article
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Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club: New Members Receive Free Ski Day credit: ik3 Whitehead
 Who wouldn't be interested in a free ski day? At the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club (WCCSC) it's a way to get new people out on the trails, some for the first time.
The Club, usually in cooperation with one or more of their local sponsors, designates a day when non-members are able to take advantage of the great trails and facilities at no charge.The new skiers are not only able to see that the trails are excellent and easy to ski, but they also have access to the waxing facilities, change rooms and the on-site sauna!
In the past, the Club has worked with the AFY (Association franco-yukonnaise) when they host their Sugar Shack, need I say more?
This is an opportunity for the Club to open its doors to the community but it also gives them a chance to possibly bring in new members. One thing you will notice if you check the Club's website is that this usually happens later in the season. Due to the early season cold, this event is typically hosted later in the season to make it more appealing to everyone.
I am not sure if the Club has actually tracked the free skiers to see if they come back or even take a membership the following season, but we know that once you ski on great track it's hard to go back to setting your own.
Does your Club host an event or do something to bring in new members? We would like to hear from you so we can share ideas with the other clubs within Cross Country Canada. Send your ideas/suggestions to Ike Whitehead, Member of the CCC Clubs and Membership Committee, at [email protected] |
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2011 Canada Winter Games are Held in Nova Scotia from February 11-27, 2011
The 2011 Canada Winter Games are held in Nova Scotia from February 11-27. Cross-country skiing has been part of the Canada Winter Games since the first Canada Winter Games in 1967 in Quebec City. Cross country ski will take place at Ski Martock during week 2.
Cross-country skiing schedule and results
Live Twitter feeds, videos, photos and blogs at #2011xcountry
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Did You Know...
� Alex Harvey became the first Canadian ever to win a gold medal at the Under-23 World Championships. Alex also is the only Canadian to win three medals at the Junior World Championships;
� Jesse Cockney, of Canmore, Alta., followed in his father's footsteps skiing to the Canada
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Jesse Cockney |
Winter Games podium with a bronze-medal finish in the men's 10-kilometre individual start. Cockney's father won two gold medals at the 1975 Canada Games in cross-country skiing
� Oslo has hosted the Nordic World Ski Championships in 1930, 1966, 1982 and this February 2011. It is also the host site of the 1952 Olympic Winter Games.
� Skiing has always had a special place in the hearts of Norwegian people. Event organizers at the World Championships are expecting at least 300,000 spectators for the championships.
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Club Profile: Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club credit: Brendan MacIntosh
On Christmas day 2010, the Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club opened a new Nordic Lodge for club members and public use. Since that day, the lodge has been a hub of activity. None of this could have happened were it not for the tremendous amount of volunteer help we received from our club members.
Our new facilities are a true reflection of the incredible spirit Revelstokians so often exhibit of rolling up their shirt sleeves and jumping in with full energy to see a project rise from an idea through to completion. In addition to regional and local initiatives for funding, many local businesses contributed equipment and manpower to make this lodge a true community asset.
The club's president, Dave Kaegi has been the driving force of the Lodge. He has contributed countless hours of volunteer time to all aspects of the club, from fund raising, to lodge design and construction, to operations management, grooming, racing programs and more. Dave's enthusiasm and commitment has made this club one of the best ski clubs in the province of BC. |
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CCC Athlete Director Nomination 2011 - Call For Applicants
Cross Country Canada is seeking passionate individuals with a background in skiing either as an active athlete, retired athlete or a person who maintains a good understanding of athlete life in the sport of Cross Country Skiing to serve as the Athlete Director on CCC's Board of Directors.
An election to nominate CCC's Athlete Director will be held at the Athlete's Meeting at the 2011 National Championships in Canmore, Wednesday, March 16th at 19:00 at the BWTC Haig Room. Candidates please submit a short bio to be posted on the website in advance of the election. All athletes and guests are welcome!
If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to contact Tasha at [email protected] or AthleteRep on twitter. Full article |
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Quotes of the Month
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photo credit: Joosep Martinson, �htuleht |
"My goal this year is to medal at the big World Championships, but it is sweet to say I was a World Champion at one stage in my life and that is something that nobody will ever be able to take away from me."
...Alex Harvey on winning the Under-23 World Championships
"First Canada Games race and I have my first medal. It is really cool that I have a Canada Games medal in the same sport as my dad 36 years later. Hopefully by the end of the week I can top his medal count, but either way it is an exciting week for our family."
...Jesse Cockney on his first medal at the Canada Winter Games
"My jaw dropped and I nearly so did my pasta. It was a surprise to me. I almost started laughing. I've never talked to the guy before in my life. The Norwegians are the best in in the world and very proud of themselves."
...Alex Harvey on being congratulated by Petter Northug
"We're too Canadian for swagger but hopefully we're able to produce something out on the race trails."
...Devon Kershaw on the success of the Canadian team heading into World Championships |
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