After impressive seasons and groundbreaking results at World Championships from Rosie Brennan and Graeme Killick, the American and Canadian have earned the title of FasterSkier's Breakthrough Skiers of 2015.
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Canadian National Ski Team
Cross Country Canada announced its national-team nominations Tuesday with little change to the World Cup and Development rosters. The 2015/2016 Senior National Team will feature 12 athletes ranging from the World Cup to U23 Development Teams.
After feeling like health issues stunted her career two seasons ago, two-time Olympian Perianne Jones decided to give it one more year and go out on a high note. She did so, staying healthy and logging some career-best distance results in her final season with the Canadian national team.
Canadian star Alex Harvey went under surgery twice this spring to correct a problem with his iliac arteries. Both operations went well and the 26-year-old will return to training May 1.
‘You Can Just Feel the Energy,’ Wadsworth Says of CCC’s Renewed Coaching Emphasis
Alex KochonApril 17, 2015
A year after an energy-draining Olympics, Justin Wadsworth said the energy within Cross Country Canada is palpable. He, for one, is ready to get back to co-coaching the World Cup Team, trading weekends on the road with Louis Bouchard and working with up-and-coming domestic coaches in Europe.
Best of Canadian Nationals: Photos and Quotes
BrainspiralApril 6, 2015
A collection of some of our favorite photos and soundbites from 2015 Canadian Nationals at Lappe Nordic in Thunder Bay, Ontario, courtesy of Martin Kaiser, Gerry Furseth and François Léger Dionne.
Despite having eight different women score World Cup points this season and a record six end up in the Red Group (top 30) after period IV, the U.S. women slipped from fourth to sixth in the Nations Cup standings. Alex Harvey, Andy Newell, and Simi Hamilton were the only North American men to attain Red Group status at the end of the season.
13th in Holmenkollen 50 k, Harvey Ends ‘Really Good Season’ on a Happy Note
Chelsea LittleMarch 14, 2015
Alex Harvey hung with the main pack until just a few kilometers from the finish of the Holmenkollen 50 k, then outsprinted Toni Livers of Switzerland for 13th place. With Ivan Babikov placing 27th, the Canadian camp seemed happy with they way their 2015 season finished.
Pneumonia Ends Kershaw’s Season, But He’s Not Done Yet: ‘You can’t go out like this’
Alex KochonMarch 7, 2015
What started out like any other cold turned into a season-ending downward spiral for Devon Kershaw, who, in the midst of what would have been his eighth World Championships, had to forgo racing and leave Sweden early to recover at his fiancée’s home in Oslo, Norway.
Harvey Jockeys for Position, Finishes Fifth in Final 50 k Push at World Championships
Alex KochonMarch 1, 2015
Alex Harvey stayed at the front of the pack for most of Sunday's 50 k classic mass start, the final race of 2015 World Championships in Falun, but he couldn't quite get into the position he needed before a four-man finishing sprint -- which he was just behind. Also for Canada, Graeme Killick notched a career-best 19th, and Ivan Babikov placed 30th after leading as well.
FasterSkier’s coverage of the 2015 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden, is brought to you by the generous support of Kikkan Randall training wear. FALUN, Sweden — It was another almost-there day for Emily Nishikawa of Canada, who finished 32nd in the 30 k classic at World Championships on Saturday. After scoring her first World Cup points in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this season, Nishikawa has been hovering around the top 30. The placed 30th...
Canada 10th, U.S. 11th as North American Men Duel in World Champs Relay
Lander KarathFebruary 27, 2015
Canada and the U.S. men's teams battled for a close 10th and 11th positions in Friday's 4 x 10 k relay at the 2015 FIS Nordic World Championships in Falun, Sweden. While both teams acknowledged a desire for improvement, they were pleased with their respective efforts.
Babikov Kicks Late for 20th in World Champs 15 k Skate, Killick Just Outside Top 30 for Canada
Alex KochonFebruary 25, 2015
Ivan Babikov couldn't believe what he was hearing early in the 2015 World Championships 15 k freestyle. Two years after placing fourth in that race, he was in danger of finishing near last if he didn't speed up. Babikov turned it on for his second lap, which ended up being 24 seconds after than his first, to place 20th. Also for Canada, Graeme Killick placed 32nd and Jess Cockney was 57th in his first distance race in almost three months.
Nishikawa Cracks Top 30 in Falun 10 k, Jones Tallies Another Distance Best in Last Race
Alex KochonFebruary 24, 2015
With the pressure off, the Canadian women posted some career-best performances on Tuesday in the 10-kilometer freestyle individual start at 2015 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. Emily Nishikawa took 30th, and Perianne Jones placed 32nd in what she said would probably be her final international race.
FasterSkier sat down with Alex Harvey on Monday to talk about the two medals he's racked up in his two races so far at 2015 World Championships, and what they mean to him and for Canadian cross-country skiing.
Cockney, Valjas Miss Falun Team-Sprint Final by Just Over a Second for 13th
Alex KochonFebruary 22, 2015
The Canadians placed seventh in the second men's semifinal at 2015 World Championships on Sunday, missing out on a spot in the final and placing 13th overall. “Everything worked to plan, it was just we were a little bit too far back, a second or two," anchor Lenny Valjas said.
Harvey Does It Again with Skiathlon Bronze, Second Medal of 2015 World Champs
Alex KochonFebruary 21, 2015
Alex Harvey approached Saturday's 30 k skiathlon with a winning mindset and came out with bronze, his second medal in as many races so far at 2015 World Championships. "A medal today is as good as gold," Canadian National Team Coach Justin Wadsworth says, "We couldn’t want anything more." Russia's Maxim Vylegzhanin outlasted Switzerland's Dario Cologna for his first world title.
What Silver Means for Canada: High-Performance Director Holland Explains
BrainspiralFebruary 21, 2015
A day after Alex Harvey rose to silver in the men's classic sprint on the first official day of 2015 World Championships in Falun, Sweden, Cross Country Canada Athlete Director Colin Abbott caught up with high-performance director Tom Holland about the significance of silver.
Harvey Rockets from Last to Claim Second in World Champs Sprint Behind Northug
Lander KarathFebruary 19, 2015
The opening race of the 2015 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships saw Norway's Petter Northug out lunge Canada's Alex Harvey for victory in the 1.4 k classic sprint in Falun, Sweden. Harvey spent much of the final in last position and skied a tactical race to overcome the strong field.
Valjas 14th, Jones 24th for Canada in World Champs Sprint
Lander KarathFebruary 19, 2015
Alex Harvey wasn't the only Canadian to race in Thursday's World Champs classic sprint. Lenny Valjas finished 14th overall for the men after placing third in his quarterfinal, while Perianne Jones placed 24th.