2009 Fast and Female Ski Festival A Great Success

Calgary, Alberta (April 2, 2009) – Last Saturday, Fast and Female presented by Best Buy hosted its annual Ski Festival at Canada Olympic Park (COP) in Calgary, Alberta. Led by 2006 Olympic gold medalist and cross-country World Cup skier, Chandra Crawford, the sold out event reached more than 150 girls between the ages of 9 and 19 years old, 55 parents and coaches, 30 elite ambassadors, and 12 volunteers from Alberta and beyond.

“The 2009 Fast and Female Ski Festival presented by Best Buy was the best and biggest we’ve ever had,” admitted Crawford who has hosted five such events since the program’s inception in 2005. “Every time I meet young, up-and-coming female skiers, I am fuelled by their positive energy and thrilled to be able to inspire them in return. This year, the response from both the youth and adult participants was amazing and I’m already looking forward to doing it all over again next year,” added Crawford who now enters an intense training program leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympics.

All female youth registered in the 2009 Fast and Female presented by Best Buy Ski Festival took part in two hours of morning skate ski drills sponsored by COLD-FX, an inspirational lunch DC Energy Services and the In Motion Network featuring Olympians Chandra Crawford and Sara Renner, a yoga class offered by Lululemon, and a group dance session presented by Buff.

In parallel to the “Youth Empowerment Day”, adults took part in the “Amazing Tips Seminar” which featured gender-specific presentation by nutritionist Kelly Anne Erdman and sports psychologist Jan Derpak. The formal presentations were followed by a high-performance parent panel and a Q&A session led by Louise Crawford (mother of Chandra and Rosanna Crawford), Maureen Huntley-Kershaw (mother of Devon Kershaw), and Lorraine and Erwin Widmer (parents of Heidi and Phil Widmer). In the afternoon, adults also had the opportunity to hit the trails with two elite ambassadors to practice their skate technique.

“I thought the 2009 Fast and Female event was the funnest camp I’ve ever been in,” exclaimed Natasha Bodnarchuk (11 years old), a first-time participant from the Altius Nordic Ski Club in Calgary. “I loved relaxing when we were doing the yoga and the dance was really fun! The x-country skiing stations were fun and energetic, and I learned a ton of techniques!”

“I also wanted to say: Do you know who my role model is?,” added Bodnarchuk. “I’ll give you a hint, it’s not Paris Hilton, I’ll give you another hint: It’s not Nicole Richie. It’s you Chandra! And you too, Heidi! And you too, Bronwyn! And you too, Sara Renner! All you girls at Fast and Female are my role models. I can’t wait to come back next year!  Until then, I’m going to spread the love and dominate the world,” she concluded.

Since its inception in 2005, the organization has impacted the lives of more than 1,000 young female cross-country enthusiasts through the hosting of free ski days at Silver Star Ski Resort (B.C.), Canmore (AB), Thunder Bay (ON), and Callaghan Valley’s Whistler Olympic Park (B.C.). Last January, Fast and Female presented by Best Buy partnered with US Olympic athlete Kikkan Randall to host its first international event in Alaska, USA.

“Going off a jump on cross-country skis, cheering on others as they speed down a trail, holding a yoga position or learning a new dance move, all provide a tremendous sense of well being and help build a solid and empowering self-image,” specified Crawford. “This is why I’m involved in Fast and Female presented by Best Buy – to empower as many young women to believe in themselves and to give them the confidence to become meaningful members of society,” she concluded.

All youth participants left this free event with a Shape Jacket generously donated by Lululemon as well as a complimentary Buff.

For pictures of the event generously taken by Devon Kershaw, visit: http://picasaweb.google.com/devonkershaw/FastAndFemale2009#

Fast and Female presented by Best Buy would like to acknowledge the financial and in-kind contributions of the following stakeholders who made this event possible: Best Buy, Cold-FX, DC Energy Services, Lululemon Athletica, Jokabeca Foundation, Kingsway Foundation, Buff, In Motion Network, Fitter First, SOS Toques, Cross Country Canada, WinSport Canada, Lazer Graphics, and the Foothills Nordic Ski Club.

The site and date for the 2010 Fast and Female presented by Best Buy Ski Festival will be announced in the Fall of 2009.

ABOUT FAST AND FEMALE PRESENTED BY BEST BUY
Fast and Female presented by Best Buy is a not-for-profit organization started in 2005 by Olympic Gold Medalist in cross-country skiing Chandra Crawford. The organization’s mission of “Empowerment Through Sport” is accomplished through fun-filled initiatives. Fast and Female presented by Best Buy is about more than a great time on skis; it’s about building confidence and leadership skills in girls and young women while showing them how much they have to gain from an active lifestyle. The young girls who attend Fast and Female presented by Best Buy events today will lead it in the future. For more information about Fast and Female, visit www.fastandfemale.com.