The Sun Always Shines in Canmore…Ready for the World Cup

After a brief hiatus, the World Cup gets underway again in Canmore, Alberta. The weather is sunny and warm, the skiing firm and fast. There is not much snow, but the courses are in great shape. The race loops are packed with athletes and coaches testing skis and getting ready for tomorrow’s distance race.

If you have never been to Canmore, the skiing here is amazing. The venue is stunningly beautiful with amazing trails, excellent facilities and enthusiastic fans. Many of the top Canadian skiers are either from Canmore or live and train here now. So there is a passionate following.

There is a very strong field here for these World Cups. Only the Norwegians, Finns and French do not have their top teams on the start list. However, all of the athletes we talked to today are clearly focused on the Olympics. The races over the next two days are being viewed as tune-ups.

Of course for the large contingent of Nation’s Group skiers for Canada and the US, who will not be going to the Olympics, these races are an important opportunity to race an international field and improve their points.

We were able to catch Petra Majdic (SLO) and her coach in the finish area after an interview with FIS. The Slovenian team arrived just yesterday.

After spending some time talking with athletes (the whole Canadian team was available to the media), we headed out to preview the course. Check back later tonight for a video course preview. Suffice it to say, the 5km loop for tomorrow’s 10/15km freestyle individual start is hard. Ivan Babikov (CAN) likes this course, and if Babikov likes it has to have some big climbs.

Intrepid ski journalist gets the lowdown from Devon Kershaw (CAN)

We are also putting together a complete preview of tomorrow’s race – up later this evening.

The finish - blocked off as the line is prepared (Photo: Win Goodbody)

If you have any requests for coverage over the next few days, please let us know – either via twitter (@fasterskier) or shoot us an email (info@fasterskier.com)

Training, testing, loosening up the legs...(Photo: Win Goodbody)

We are fired up to be here - our goal is to provide the best coverage - anywhere. Let us know what you want to see, what you want to know.

FasterSkier

Heaven (in Canada!)

Canmore Photos

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3 comments

2PACmosDEF
February 4, 2010 at 6:21 pm

The coverage this year has been AMAZING! I’m so impressed with Nat Hertz traveling all from Alaska to Hintertzen. I really liked the interviews, especially the ones of Petter Northug’s dad. I’ve noticed the video camera for interviews was shaky at World Juniors, maybe you could put it on a tripod or even get a better video camera?
FasterSkier
February 4, 2010 at 6:23 pm

Thanks for the feedback. Nat has been doing a great job. We do have a better camera, but the speed and convenience of the iPhone sometimes takes precedence. Shooting HD with a good camera means a much longer workflow before the video can get on the site. So we have been going for speed over quality, but will try to do some with the better camera!
Reese
February 4, 2010 at 10:00 pm

Three thumbs up to Fasterskier for the awesome coverage this season, on all kinds of races. It was sweet to have Nat in Germany getting the lowdown on the Junior/U23 World Championships, and using his trademark fearless reporting. The fact that Fasterskier is willing to step up and send reporters to European races, World Cups, and the Olympics deserves some respect and is a sign of good things to come. Keep it up!