CCC Banner - NEW 2011

Co-editors:

Chris Dornan, Cathy Sturgeon, and Martine Grenon

March 2011

IN THIS ISSUE
Haywood Securities Powers Podium Performances
Two-Time Olympian George Grey Officially Retires
Para-Nordic Profile
CCC Staff Changes
Reminder: Application Process for National Development Centers
Para-Nordic Ski Team off to Siberia for IPC World Championships
Women on Skis-International Women's Day
Living History Project
BMO Cross Country Canada MasterCard
Did You Know...
Club Profile
Quotes of the Month
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NEW to the
E-Store -
Halti Kadenwood Jackets
 Kadenwood jacket 

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.

Cross Connections

Davin MacIntoshWe have heard from many members across the country and it sounds like it has been an incredible cross-country ski season everywhere - from Blow Me Down Ski Club to Callaghan Valley Olympic Park.  Now is a wonderful time to reflect on the accomplishments of clubs, members and teams from coast to coast and from jackrabbits to National Ski Team members.

 

The NST season ended with both Devon Kershaw and Alex Harvey placing in the top 10 of the Overall World Cup standings (Sweden was the only other country to achieve this result - even Norway didn't quite make it).  Chandra Crawford and Dasha Giazova achieved a World Cup podium.   Devon Kershaw managed four individual World Cup podiums with one victory.  Alex Harvey had one individual podium.  And of course Devon and Alex together made history as World Champions in Oslo Norway.

 

All of us ski for our own reasons, and it is sometimes difficult to reconcile the many interests represented by our membership.  CCC is the result of many people working together toward common strategic goals.  We have made great progress this year on many fronts.  It is my sincere hope that all members are recognising improvements and achievements that touch them in some way, and that we may end the season by recognizing collective accomplishments over the past year. 

 

CCC would like to thank all the athletes, volunteers, officials, coaches and the entire cross-country skiing community from coast to coast to coast for all their hard work and dedication to make the sport of cross-country skiing, a great one!

 

 
Executive Director
Davin MacIntosh

Haywood Securities Powers PodiumHaywood Performances 

   

Canada's women's cross-country ski athletes have charged back to the top of the international standings this year with Chandra Crawford, Daria Gaiazova and Perianne Jones producing record performances, thanks to a relentless work-ethic and the long-standing support of Haywood Securities.

 

The 2006 Olympic gold medallist, Chandra Crawford, joined forces with Daria Gaiazova to win her first World Cup medal in nearly two years, when the duo teamed up to win the bronze in a sprint relay in Dusseldorf, Germany.

 

"It was absolutely amazing. Daria and I had a blast out there," said Crawford, of Canmore, Alta. "I officially qualified for the World Championships the day before, and treated the relay as my first day of preparation for the World Championships. It feels so good to be out there rubbing elbows with those World Cup skiers again."

 

It was the first medal of Gaiazova's career.

 

"We knew we trained properly to be able to do this and it now takes the monkey off our back," said Gaiazova, of Banff, Alta., who has been a mainstay on the Haywood NorAm podium over the last four years. "Now I believe we can go out there and ski with passion and not worry about that first podium."

 

The 27-year-olds have not looked back. One month later, the hard-nosed Canucks narrowly missed the podium after finishing fifth in a sprint relay in Liberec, Czech Republic.

 

With the Haywood NorAm Series playing a critical role in developing the two leaders on the Canadian National Ski Team, both athletes have enjoyed breakthrough seasons on different levels this year. The Haywood NorAm Series, the nation's premiere development race series, has also helped propel Perianne Jones, of Almonte, Ont. to a personal best 12th-place finish at the World Cup Finals. Jones earned her spot at the Grand Final with her results on the NorAm Series.

 

"Haywood's support for our team goes so far beyond just finances," said Crawford. "Knowing the passion they have for not only our sport, but to be a part of our team, is incredibly motivating and inspires us to chase the podium."

 

With the season wrapping up in Canmore with the Haywood Ski Nationals, the logo on the athletes' toques is evidence of a major player that has help guide them to a record-setting season.

Two-Time Olympian George Grey Officially Retires 

Credit: Chris Dornan

 George Grey

After racing on the World Cup for nearly a decade against the top athletes on the globe, and competing in the Torino and Vancouver Olympics along with five World Championships, the 31-year-old George Grey, has decided to retire.

 

"For me the timing just felt right," said Grey, who started skiing when he was four years old, and racing at age seven. "In the last two years I felt like I accomplished many of my career goals and reached a performance level that was as high as I could attain. I am now looking forward to being a husband, father, and to new challenges and experiences in life."

 

With Canada's Beckie Scott having just broken through to win Canada's first Olympic medal in the sport, Grey of Rossland, B.C., emerged onto the National Ski Team in 2002 with a group of bright-eyed, energetic young men from across the country poised and determined to follow Scott's trail to the international podium.

 

Devon Kershaw was the first to find his way onto the podium in 2006, and it didn't take long for the others to follow suit. Four years later, Grey enjoyed a breakthrough moment of his own with his most memorable races coming at Whistler Olympic Park. The veteran teamed up with National Ski Team rookie, Alex Harvey, in 2009 to win a World Cup bronze medal in the sprint relay at the Olympic Test Event in Whistler. His best Olympic and individual career finish was eighth during the pursuit competition in 2010 when all three Canadian men finished in the top-10, and all four in the top-20.

 

"Getting my hands on just one medal was such an incredible high for me, and sharing it with such a talented athlete and friend in Alex made it even sweeter," said Grey, whose best individual result outside the Olympics was a ninth-place finish at the Tour de Ski prologue in 2009. "My fondest memory has to be the 30-kilometre pursuit race with Ivan (Babikov), Alex (Harvey), and Devon (Kershaw) skiing right at the front of the pack with me. We were showing the world that we had finally arrived, and what we were capable of as a team. It was a career best for me, and to do it at a home Olympics with three of my buddies was amazing."

 

After 10 years of blood, sweat and tears, Grey leaves the sport with the Canadian men's squad amongst the best in the world.

 

"When I joined the Canadian men's team we were described as 'Canada's most anonymous athletes,' he said. "Now our team has World Championship medallists, World Cup medallists, Tour de Ski medallists. We have delivered a solid team. I know Canada is in good hands and there is loads of great talent coming up the system so I will sleep well."

For more information http://www.cccski.com/main.asp?cmd=doc&ID=8073&lan=0

Para-Nordic Profile: Para-Nordic Athletes Perform at the Canada Winter Games 2011

Credit: Patti Kitler 

 Kelsi - Para-nordic

Ten provinces worked hard to develop programs to have Para-Nordic athletes competing for the first time at the Canada Winter Games (CWG) in Halifax. There were 30 Para-Nordic athletes racing from the following provinces: Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Yukon. The addition of the Para-Nordic category gave an amazing environment to CWG and the athletes strived to do their best and all were competitive at the event.

 

There were three days of racing; 2.5 km free for standing and sit skiers on Monday; 600 meter sit ski and 1 km standing sprint course Tuesday and Thursday, a 4.5 sit ski course and a 5km classic hunting start. This type of start takes into account the athletes' classification percentage. The athletes start at set intervals that result in an amazing race with head to head competition to the finish.

 

Lou Gibson, Margarita Gorbounova, S�bastien Fortier, Courtney Knight and Mary Benson were amazing leaders at the games. The Paralympians helped the new comers with technique, encouragement and opened the door for the athletes to set up and compete to their potential.

 

The person that needs to be recognized for his vision and dream is Jeff Whiting. He has persevered for 30 years working to see Para-Nordic athletes competing and having competitors to challenge in the races. Thanks Jeff for sticking to your dream! All the athletes left the CWG with confidence which will stay with them for life. 

 

 

 

 

CCC Staff Changes

 

Our Administrative Assistant, Barb Cartier has accepted another position with Canadian Mountain Holidays in Banff and her last day with CCC was March 18th. We thank Barb for her dedication to CCC and her great customer service skills. We are sad to see Barb leave CCC and wish her good luck in her new endeavors.

 

Martine GrenonMartine Grenon-Lafontaine was hired as our new Assistant Administrator and her official start date was March 21st. She has been involved in sports at a competitive level in downhill skiing, swimming and gymnastics and understands the importance of supporting athletes in their journey to excellence.  She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing as well as a Minor Degree in Kinesiology, and has over 5 years of professional experience in management and marketing in both the pharmaceutical & health industry, and the sport & fitness industry. Martine is also fluent in French and English.

 

We are happy to welcome Martine

to our team!

REMINDER : Application process for NationalCCC logo colour Development Centers

 

Non senior NST athletes who believe they could be considered for NDC selection based on the NDC selection principles (section 15.0: http://www.cccski.com/dbfiles/2035.pdf ) and who would like to join a NDC must forward a letter of interest to the ADHP-D ([email protected]) by April 1st, 2011 to be considered for selection. The letter of interest (a simple e-mail will do) must include the order of the athlete's preferred NDC. NB : International Points Benchmarks per year of birth (see graph in annex 3 of NST selection criteria document) are not strict eligibility requirements anymore but will nonetheless be used as guidance for selection.

Para-Nordic Ski Team off to Siberia for IPC World Championships Credit: Mike Edwards

 

 

IPC Logo
The Canadian Para-Nordic Ski Team will soon be heading deep into the heartland of Russia to compete in the IPC Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing World Championships March 30 - April 10, 2011 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.  This small Siberian city of 50,000 people, 2000km East of Moscow, is quickly gaining a reputation as a top notch international cross-country skiing and biathlon race venue.  They just finished hosting a successful IBU Biathlon World Championships and should be well prepared for the IPC event.

 

Canada will be sending a small team of medal contenders to the championships this year lead by Olympic multi gold medalist Brian McKeever. Mark Arendz, Jody Barber, Colette Bourgonje, Chris Klebl and McKeever's new guide Erik Carleton round out the team.  Mark is currently 2nd overall in the IPC World Cup LW Standing class with 3 World Cup gold medals to his credit this year.  Jody is always a medal possibility and comes to the world Championships with a World Cup bronze medal this season. Colette, also an Olympic medalist and PNST veteran is a perennial medal threat. Chris Klebl, the newest member of the team sits a solid 4th overall in the LW sitting class on the World Cup circuit and has a World Cup bronze medal to his name this season.

 

"Everyone on this team is capable of winning a medal at these Championships" says Robin McKeever - head coach of the PNST.

 

The team is in Canmore March 11th -19th training and racing at the Haywood National Championships in preparation for the World Championships.  Then the athletes and a couple of support staff leave for the World Championships on March 23rd.  They will train in western Europe for 6 days and then meet up with the rest of the support crew on March 29th to head to Khanty-Mansiysk  to prepare for the first IPC World Championship events on April 2nd.

 

Wikipedia has the schedule of events.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_IPC_Biathlon_and_Cross-Country_Skiing_World_Championships

 

Official website, there is a lot more information on the Russian language then English.

http://ugrasport.com/parabiathlon/?p=769&lang=en#more-769

Women on Skis - International Women's Day Women on Skis Logo

Credit: Maureen Kershaw

 

This year Cross Country Canada's Women on Skis Committee chose to partner with Fast and Female to enhance the profile of our annual promotion of Women on Ski Days and to encourage clubs throughout the country to host an event on/or close to March 8th.  Our sport (skiing) provides opportunities for growth, determination, leadership development, skill development and building confidence. Whether the girls involved are part of the organizational team that designs and advertises the "women's ski day", participate as leaders in delivering the food, skill instruction, wax tips, or other program delivery, or as active participants, these Women on Ski days bring women together to celebrate the freedom girls and women enjoy in Canada. Being active is in style.

Full article http://www.cccski.com/main.asp?cmd=doc&ID=8053&lan=0

Living History Project  Credit: Jean BristowCCC logo colour

 

For those of you interested in learning more about the history of our sport, click on the Living History tab on the left-hand side of the CCC webpage. You will see a variety of headings covering many aspects of our sport, including Olympians and Paralympians, past Junior and Senior National Championships, and Photos and Stories about people who have been involved with cross-country skiing for many years and upon whom the foundations of our sport have been built. 

 
BMO Cross Country Canada MasterCard

BMO CCC MasterCard

 

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Did You Know...
  

  For the first time in major competition, Brian McKeever will have a new guide. Longtime friend, Erik Carleton, will guide the 10-time Paralympic medallist at the 2011 IPC World Championships;

 

  Canada will send a star-studded line-up to the IPC World Championships including: Brian McKeever, Mark Arendz, Colette Bourgonje, Jody Barber, and Chris Klebl;

 

  One million people lined the trails in Oslo for the 2011 World Championships;

 

  Beckie Scott and Sara Renner were honoured during the 2011 Haywood Ski Nationals with the Alberta Government naming a section of the World Cup course at the Canmore Nordic Centre after each of them.

 

Club Profile: Michel Vautour Sport Park, Saint-Louis-de-Kent, N. B. Michel Vautour Sports Park

 Credit: Walter Holleran


The Michel Vautour Sport Park consists of a numbers of sports facilities such as: tennis, soft ball, soccer track & field and its last addition, cross country skiing and ski playground.  The trails are also used during the other seasons for cross country, running and walking in a natural setting.

One of the particularities of the park is that it is situated in the centre of the town close to the primary and secondary schools. Cross Country skiing can therefore be taught in the physical education programs of the two schools. The facilities are used primarily to train the youth in the Bunny Rabbit, Jackrabbit and Track Attack by the Cross Country Ski Club Boules de Neige's trainers. Furthermore, the site is an excellent place to learn the different skills of cross country skiing. It includes a very technical course (see photo) and interesting slopes for the shorter distances of the trails. Twelve combinations of trails are possible, varying from 0.5 to 1.5 km, combining several levels of difficulty.

Full article http://www.cccski.com/main.asp?cmd=doc&ID=8095&lan=0 

 
Quotes of the Month
 

"The 2010 Olympics were sensational. The World Champs this year in Norway were staggering, but I am more than happy to wave a warm good-bye and smile at all the precious memories that I have accumulated. Thank you to everyone for your incredible support. My father always told me it is the process and not the outcome. I have fully realized that now, and I will never forget those who have helped me along this incredible ride."

                        ...George Grey looking back on his career

 

"This feels absolutely amazing to win the real World Championship medal and not just the World Juniors. The Norwegians have like 100 World Championship medals and we won our first today for Canada. To do it at the birthplace of the sport is incredible."

                        ...Alex Harvey on winning gold at World Championships

 

"It is a dream come true and to do this in Norway is amazing. I was nervous heading into the World Championships and this race, but we did it. I'm just so happy."

                        ...Devon Kershaw after being crowned World Champion

 

"It was a great day and nice to race fast again. I made a promise to myself I was going to come to Nationals and have fun, and not worry about the results. Enjoying racing seems to be the ticket to success for me."

                        ...Brittany Webster after winning first National title

 

"I think the job VANOC did in promoting the Olympics and Paralympics as one Games was a really important step for the Paralympic movement. For the short time after the Games, Paralympic athletes were being recognized in the street as well as the Olympic athletes, and that's never happened before."

                        ...Brian McKeever looking back on his golden hat trick at 2010 Paralympics

 

  
George Grey & Alex Harvey-Whistler World Cup

 

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