Canmore World Cup Coverage

Special to CrossCountrySkier.com

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Canmore Gears Up for Cross Country World Cup

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While the recreational trail system rolls gently through a portion of several thousand square kilometers of provincial parkland, the competition trails consist of combined and re-combined loops totaling no more than 7.5k – all of which rise up directly from the stadium. 

Snaking back and forth on terraced steps carved into the slopes of the hogback ridges on a tableland above town, the races unfold in an arena-like setting that resembles a giant natural amphitheater in reverse. Instead of a spectator sitting on terraced steps and looking down onto a theater stage, the ski stadium and spectator viewing lies in a flat, base area from which the viewer looks up onto the meticulously sculpted race trails.

The trails rise successively up and up in the folds of terrain, while often crossing bridges over gullies or threading underpasses for continuity. For all but the world’s elite skiers accustomed to such difficult trails, the experience is akin to some sort of M.C. Escher drawing where the skiing is uphill both ways all the time. Then skiers hit fast downhills that dump back out at the beginning of another tough climb with little rest.

The renovated lodge at the Canmore Nordic Centre (see a larger version).

Home to the Canadian national team’s headquarters, the Canmore Nordic Centre is perched close the FIS altitude limit of 1800 meters above sea level. Thus, the human body’s physiological reaction to less oxygen is a factor in racing as many as four times in five days. Few athletes, though, will attempt to compete seriously in all four races. 

Conditions should not be a problem this time. Back in 2005, the races here were held on mostly artificial snow that stopped abruptly at the end of the competition trails. The temperatures plummeted, even by Canadian standards, resulting in a squeaky slow death march with many DNFs, especially in the distance classic race. 

Retired Canadian star skier Beckie Scott, who dominated those 2005 races, commented at the time on how hard it was to get away from anyone in those bitter conditions and on those hard, short loops.

Now, according to John Samms, local tourism official and avid skier, “these are the best conditions we’ve had in 15 years.”  On Sunday, some American skiers were striding on Rode Special Green which slipped a little on the climbs and the alternating shade and sun.  More than one skier had to shorten their kick zone to adjust since the typical “Rocky Mountain soft track” was preempted by World Cup quality grooming which produces classic tracks that resemble molded concrete and reward a short, precise kick zone.

There are at least two stories evident in the background at these Canmore races.  Two years ago, an emotional Beckie Scott and Sara Renner both climbed atop multiple podiums. These Canadian women’s finishes on Canadian snow were more than personal accomplishments; they were collective triumphs.

The rehabilitation of the Olympic Nordic venue to comply with the detailed requirements of FIS, and bring a world cup event back to Canmore, runs counter to the more typical problematic management of legacy venues.

Ron Bergin first wrote about the 2005 World Cup events in Cross Country Skier magazine and quoted several enthusiastic supporters that, should they want to do another World Cup in the future, it would be even easier next time around. 

Just over two years later, the World Cup has indeed returned and, additionally, Canmore just received a confirmed Biathlon World Cup for December 2008 or January 2009. That means that the most popular televised winter sport in Europe will make the jump across the pond to perform in Canmore.

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