http://www.xcountryab.net Latest news from Cross County Alberta en-us Copyright 2009, Cross County Alberta cca@xcountryab.net cca@xcountryab.net http://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=230http://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=230The 2010 Arctic Winter Games are currently underway in Grande Prairie, AB. Team Alberta North had a successful first day, as Adrienne Killick won a bronze medal and Micah Killick won a silver medal in their respective 5km classic races. More pictures and results will be posted to the Cross Country Alberta website as they become available.Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=229http://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=229In the fall of 2008 the Honourable Cindy Ady, Minister of Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation (TPR) announced that she would explore the development of a Recreation Policy. In early 2009 a TPR coordinating team was formed to facilitate the development of this policy. In April of 2009 a cross‐ministry advisory committee was formed to inform the process and to engage commitment across government for resulting policy objectives. This document is a summary of the feedback that has been received through a series of stakeholder focus group sessions on concepts to inform the policy development.Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=226http://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=226The Olympics are over, it's time to go back outside! Take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and get out skiing this weekend at one of the loppets throughout the province. The Mooseheart Loppet takes place this Saturday, March 6th in Edson. And, the Lake Louise Loppet runs on Sunday, March 7th. For more information about these recreational races, see the 'Announcements and Upcoming Events' listing.Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=223http://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=22325 Canmore Nordic Ski club athletes, age 11-13, traveled to Joliette, Quebec for the 15th edition of the Youth Noram Championships. The event took place over 3 days and included over 15 Nordic Ski Clubs from Canada and the U.S. The first day was a 3.5km skate race in which CNSC placed 17 athletes in the top 10. The second day was a 3.5km classic race with CNSC placing 16 athletes in the top 10. The CNSC won the overall points banner, knocking the eastern power house clubs Skibec, Mount St. Anne, and Nakkertock, the reigning champion, off the top spot.Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=220http://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=220February 26-28, 2010 You are invited to participate in a FREE learn to ski clinic on Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at the Canmore Nordic Centre. Participants of all disabilities are welcome! The day will consist of watching the Para-Nordic races, participating in a ski clinic and meeting some of our national ski team athletes.Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=219http://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=219The Race Committee has received feedback from several teams that putting together 4-person relay teams with 2 females presents a challenge. We have decided to change from 4-person teams with 2 females to 3-person teams with 1 female for relay categories A, B, and C. A revised race notice will be posted at www.edmontonnordic.ca. There are no other changes from the original race notice. Clayton Stafford Chief of Competition Edmonton Nordic Ski ClubFri, 19 Feb 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=213http://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=213Foothills Nordic Ski Club (FNSC) is seeking to fill the role of Biathlon Head Coach. This is a contract position with a two year renewable term. FNSC is an active full service Nordic ski club based in Calgary, Alberta. Incorporated in 1964, the club has a long history of organizing and delivering programs geared towards cross-country skiers and biathletes of all ages and performance levels. The club offers biathlon programming through seven training groups. Our biathletes primarily train out of Canada Olympic Park and Steve Johnson Range in Calgary and Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park near Canmore. Approximately one hundred biathletes, under the direction of the Head Coach and nine Assistant Coaches, are enrolled in our biathlon programs during the current winter season.Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=214http://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=214Pathway to Excellence Program chooses 26 high-performing young athletes More than two dozen Alberta athletes will have the opportunity of a lifetime this month to see their own sports, live and up close at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. Provincial sport organizations nominated 26 high-performance emerging athletes through the Pathway to Excellence program. The program is sponsored by the Alberta Olympic and Paralympic Secretariat and coordinated by the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation.Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=208http://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=208Canada's Sara Renner wrote a dramatic final chapter to a remarkable World Cup career after winning the bronze medal in a cross-country skiing classic-sprint race minutes from her home at the Canmore Nordic Centre - a venue which inspired her take up the sport after watching the 1988 Olympic Winter Games. "To win a medal today is ridiculously unbelievable," said the 33-year-old Renner at the finish line. "This community supports people big and small and to win a medal in my final World Cup race at home, in front of my daughter and husband, I just can't think of anything more special."Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=206http://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=206Foothills Nordic Ski Club is pleased to announce the successful launch of its "Ski at School" Program, an initiative designed to introduce and promote cross-country skiing in Calgary area schools. Funded in-part by the Alberta Government's Community Initiatives Program (CIP), the Ski at School Program involves multi-day ski lessons provided in the school yards of elementary schools in the local area. In addition to CIP funding from the Alberta Lottery Fund, this exciting new program has been made possible through important contributions from several private partners. To facilitate equipment access, Foothills has purchased a demo fleet of children's cross-country ski equipment (skis, boots and poles). In partnership with Salomon, a major ski manufacturer, and Lifesport Calgary, a local Nordic ski retailer, Foothills was able to acquire 40 sets of children’s sized cross-country ski equipment at a substantially discounted cost. To transport this equipment to and from area schools, a local energy company, DC Energy Services, has contributed a covered trailer that now features Foothills logos and branding for all program partners. The trailer not only facilitates delivery of all equipment to school sites but also generates awareness for the program, the club, and the sport as it travels throughout the city.Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=202http://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=202Explore more than 30 kilometres of groomed cross-country ski trails through dense forests along the eastern edge of the Continental Divide. This network of easy loops and challenging tracks islocated in Chinook Provincial Recreation Area and Alison-Chinook Forestry Land Use Zone, over 300 hectares of spectacular rolling forest and lake shore set in the Crowsnest Mountains. Trail reports are available from December 1 - March 31. Maps are available at the trail head and memberships to support the not for profit group maintaining the trails can be purchased from the Crowsnest Pass Cross Country Ski Association.Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=203http://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=203The Ski Fit North Alberta program officially hit the road on January 19, 2010 as Andrew Urton, Ski Fit North Alberta Coordinator arrived at Fort MacKay Elementary school to work with over 75 students and teachers from the small hamlet north of Fort McMurray. For the majority of students this was their first experience on cross-country skis. Over the next 3 days more than 300 students were exposed to the Statoil sponsored program including students in Conklin School, Anzac School and the elementary school in Janvier. "Interest was high in all four communities," highlighted Urton after his week-long trip into Northern Alberta. “All school teachers showed interest in purchasing equipment so they could spend more time on the snow. Perhaps the real success of Statoil’s investment will be evident in the future when each school has their own equipment and skiing is part of the curriculum.” The program is coordinated by Cross Country Alberta in cooperation with Cross Country Canada.Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=204http://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=204While gold, silver and bronze are the colours typically associated with Olympic sport supremacy, the Alberta World Cup cross-country event in Canmore, Alberta, this week will be all green. The event, which is the final international race leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympics, has signed on to be bullfrogpowered with 100 per cent clean, renewable electricity. Through the agreement, Bullfrog Power will ensure green electricity is injected onto the regional grid to match the amount of power the event, which runs from February 4 to 7 at the Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park, uses. The agreement includes the greening of all active space used during the competition, including set-up and race areas.Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=196http://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=196The Fort Saskatchewan Nordic Ski Club (FSNSC) participated in the Fort Saskatchewan Olympic Torch Relay festivities at the Dow Centennial Centre, on the evening of Wednesday January 13, 2010.Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:00:00 ESThttp://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=197http://www.xcountryab.net/main.php?p=197With just over two weeks to go before the big event, preparations for Alberta World Cup 2010 are kicking into high gear in Canmore. With over 200 athletes from 25 nations confirmed to compete, this year's races promise to be bigger and better than ever. "Team confirmations are streaming in now and it looks like we'll be very close to a full international field," remarked Al Maddox, Chair of the Event Organizing Committee. "This will truly be a unique opportunity to witness Olympic caliber racing in our own backyard."Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST