Olympic Athletes Coming to Silver Star

FasterSkierOctober 23, 2005

Source; Silver Star Press Release

Vernon, B.C.: Just eight weeks before the Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, over 160 of the world’s best Nordic athletes from 25 countries will be coming to Silver Star Mountain Resort to compete at the Viessmann FIS World Cup in Silver Star Provincial Park, hosted by Sovereign Lake Nordic Club. Silver Star Mountain Resort will be extending a warm welcome to all World Cup teams and Olympic athletes with a month-long Nordic celebration that will boost the enthusiasm of Nordic skiers throughout the Okanagan Valley!

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Greater Vernon and the North Okanagan to host Olympic level athletes and for spectators to witness the best Nordic racing in the world”, commented Glenn Bond, Nordic Manager at Silver Star Mountain Resort.

“From the balcony of Bugaboos Bakery, while sipping your latte, you’ll easily be able to view Olympic champions as they train on the trails on Silver Star Mountain Resort and rub shoulders with the athletes as they stroll along the boardwalks and enjoy the amenities and ambience of Silver Star’s award winning Victorian village,” continued Bond.

Spectators will have the opportunity to witness and be up close to the heart pounding action as Silver Star Mountain Resort hosts the International XC Night Sprints on December 6th. 160 of the world’s top Olympic racers will compete in a 650 metre ‘dash for cash’ skate race! Racers will be sprinting amidst a soundscape of deejay driven beats, fireworks, and seventeen foot JumboTron screen that will magnify the on-course action!

“It will be a Nordic race unlike any other”, commented Michael J. Ballingall, Senior Vice President, Silver Star Ski Resort Ltd. Under the lights, the best athletes from Canada, including Olympic gold medalist, Beckie Scott, the USA, Sweden, Norway, Russia, Germany, and Austria, will be competing for their share of the $10,000 prize purse!

“The best part of this race”, commented Ballingall, “is that its open to amateur races from the Okanagan who have their shot at toppling the pros for a chance at the cash.”

This sprint course will start and finish in Silver Star’s picturesque Victorian village; the time trials will start at 2:00 pm with the top 16 men and women advancing to the finals starting at 7:00 pm. Endurance (to survive the grueling heats), power, and flat-out speed will be what’s needed to bring home the cash! Expect to see some finish-line heroics as racers battle it out head-to-head in races that are often decided by the length of a ski tip, or hundredths of seconds.

This adrenaline fuelled Silver Star International Night Sprint is presented by Silver Star Properties ReMax, with cash prizes for both men and women of $2,500 (1st) $1,500 (2nd) and $1,000 (3rd). “We guarantee the International XC Night Sprints will energize the crowd beyond belief! The après-ski street party will go down in history for Silver Star. It is a must see event,” commented Bond.

This event is open to all Nordic athletes wanting to test themselves against the best. For race registration email: Sandy Cook cookcan@telus.net Bib pick up with be at the National Altitude Training Center from 1:00pm — 5:00pm December 5, 2005 at Silver Star Mountain Resort. There is no registration fee! Professional timing-result services by WIGE Data.

Silver Star's Victorian village will host Olympic athletes on December 6th for the International XC Night Sprints
For further information, contact Glenn Bond, Nordic Manager, Silver Star Mountain Resort (250) 542-0224 or email gbond@skisilverstar.com, or Steven Threndyle, Media Relations coordinator, (250) 764-2143 or email sthrendyle@bigwhite.com. For photos and statistics, please contact Brian Webb at (250) 558-6016 or email bwebb@skisilverstar.com.

FasterSkier