Canada’s ski cross athletes won a record 20 World Cup medals and put a first-ever ski cross Olympic gold medal in the bag last season. Now, Canada Ski Cross, with the help of SportChek, is working on another milestone – holding the first sanctioned ski cross tour in Canada.
“Up until this year Canada Ski Cross’s mission has been to dominate in the first Olympic ski cross event and win World Cup podiums,” said Chad Weir, Director of National Programs and Events for Canada Ski Cross/Alpine Canada Alpin. “Now, with the financial support of SportChek and the backing of Alpine Canada Alpin, we can look to develop our sport here at home, beginning by staging an unprecedented 12 ski cross events from B.C. to Nova Scotia.”
The SportChek Canada Ski Cross Tour will host events for all ages and levels of competitors from nine-year-olds to 35-year-olds and up. Fernie’s event will be held on Saturday, January 22. The tour will culminate with the Canadian Championships in Lake Louise, Alta., on Saturday, April 2.
“Our goal is to create opportunities for young skiers to try ski cross and develop into national team athletes,” said Weir. “We want to bring more exposure to ski racing in Canada and help establish the discipline of ski cross within the domestic ski racing community.”
As part of Alpine Canada Alpin, Canada Ski Cross is working to develop course building standards and expertise, create a training pathway for officials and volunteers to get involved with the sport and assist the Canadian Ski Coaching Federation in creating a ski cross certification.
The sport of ski cross made its debut in Canada in the winter of 2007, and since then the Canadian Ski Cross Team has established itself as one of the best teams on the World Cup circuit. This past year Canada Ski Cross joined the national sports organization, Alpine Canada Alpin.
For more information or to register for a Canada Ski Cross event, please visit canadaskicross.ca.
2011 SportChek Canada Ski Cross Tour events:
Canadian World Cup Ski Cross
The Rockstar Ski Cross Grand Prix
Blue Mountain, Ont. – Saturday, February 12, 2011
The SportChek Ski Cross Canadian Championships
Lake Louise, Alta. – Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3, 2011
Canadian Ski Cross Nor-Ams
Blue Mountain, Ont. – Sunday, February 13, 2011
Big White, B.C. – Saturday, March 5 and Sunday, March 6, 2011
Red Mountain, B.C. – Wednesday, March 9 to Saturday, March 12, 2011
SportChek Canada Ski Cross Tour club events
Sir Sam’s Ski and Summer Resort, Ont. – Sunday, January 9, 2011
Asessippi Ski Area and Resort, Man. – Saturday, January 15, 2011
Fernie Alpine Resort, B.C. – Saturday, January 22, 2011
Alpine Ski Club, Ont. – Sunday, January 30, 2011 (FSO Event)
Ski Martock, N.B. – Saturday, February 5, 2011
Chicopee Ski Club, Ont. – Saturday, February 5, 2011 (FSO Event)
Craigleith Ski Club, Ont. – Saturday, February 12, 2011 (FSO Event)
Ontario Provincial Ski Cross Championships at Camp Fortune, Ont. – Saturday, February 19, 2011 (FSO Event)
Mont Ste. Marie, Que. – Saturday, February 26, 2011
Mount St. Louie Moonstone, Ont. – Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12, 2011 (FSO Event)
Beaver Valley Ski Club, Ont. – Friday, March 18, 2011 (FSO Event)
Ski Crabbe Mountain, N.S. – Saturday, March 26, 2011
To see where Canada’s national ski cross team is competing this year, check out the full schedule of FIS World Cup races.
