To those who question Canmore’s reputation as the top Nordic athlete-producing community in Canada, look no further than the nation’s Ski Tour Canada roster.
Seventeen of Canada’s 26 athletes live or have trained in the Bow Valley during their career, either with the Canadian national team, the Alberta World Cup Academy or Canmore Nordic Ski Club (see full roster, page 47). They will be in tough against the best in the world over eight days of racing, beginning March 8.
Canmore Nordic Ski Club landed two of its athletes on the Canadian team, as Annika Hicks and Russell Kennedy both managed to make the squad of 26. Both made the team on the strength of NorAm distance and sprint race results, clinching spots this past weekend at the Prince George NorAm.
“To race eight world cups, which is quadruple my previous world cup race total, is incredible,” Hicks said.
Hicks, 24, lived in Chelsea, Que., next door to the Gatineau race course until she was nine years old before moving to Canmore. She shot up through the nation’s ski ranks as a teenager and after her 2012 world cup debut, she was struck by compartment syndrome in her shins, causing her to take a year off from racing. Qualifying for the world cup again is a huge comeback.
“It was a rough year. After I came back with the Alberta World Cup Academy I wanted a change. I joined Canmore Nordic, where my goal was to have fun and fall in love with the sport again. I definitely did that,” Hicks said.
As a member of Canmore Nordic, she worked with coach Alain Parent and acted as a mentor to many of the club’s younger skiers, travelling with the teenagers, and acting as a positive role model. She also shared her baking with the team, including her now famous homemade donuts.
“They are all so positive and supportive. Sometimes they called me mom.”
Working with Parent, she pushed hard through four months of qualifying races, securing a spot on the final weekend of racing.
“Alain, the coaches and all of the parents supported us through this entire process,” Hicks said.
Kennedy, meanwhile, was in a fierce battle with formidable ski superstar Brian McKeever for the final distance spot on the team for much of the year. Kennedy clinched the final spot with a .4 second victory over Kevin Sandau in the 15-kilometre skate race Saturday in Prince George, for the first big NorAm victory of his career.
“I’ve been skating quite well this year and was confident I could have a good race. To win was pretty unbelievable,” Kennedy said.
The sense of accomplishment wasn’t lost on Kennedy.
“I feel like this event is pretty huge for Canada – it’s a big stepping stone for cross country skiing in this country. I’m excited to be a part of that,” Kennedy said.
After breaking into the sport as a sprinter, Parent has reformed the 24 year old into a distance skier, where he’s done well. He’s juggled training with a job at the Bill Warren Training Centre while following his passions for filmmaking and music.
“I appreciate everything the club, and Canmore in general, does for me. CNSC isn’t as structured as a national team program, but their support allows me to ski,” Kennedy said. “Also the Bill Warren Training Centre’s support is huge. I don’t know what I’d do without Winsport. Mike Norton is definitely my number one supporter after mom and dad.”
The two CNSC athletes have launched a gofundme campaign, geared at raising $6,000 to pay for flights and trip costs over the course of the tour.
The Alberta World Cup Academy will have five of its current skiers on the team, including Patrick Stewart-Jones. Another product of Chelsea, Stewart-Jones clinched his spot on the last day – the 20-km classic race in Prince George, after appearing to lose his spot on the team the day before.
“This might be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Especially for me, from Chelsea, I’ll get to do two races in my own backyard,” Stewart-Jones said. “But I have to say the sprint in Canmore is my biggest focus. I have to race hard to get there.”
The ukulele-playing skier raced on the world cup twice last year, but struggled with jet lag in his first race, and fell in his second. He will also get the chance to race the tour with his sister, Katherine, who trains in Thunder Bay.
“If you told me 10 years ago I could do two world cups in my two backyards, and travel with my sister, I would think that’s crazy,” Stewart-Jones said.
Jess Cockney, 26, overcame a terrible season to secure a spot on the team, and hopes the tour will represent a shot at redemption. On the world cup, he didn’t come anywhere close to his goal of a top 30 result. After training much of the year in Quebec, he entered the season with more muscle than ever, but that didn’t translate into faster times.
“It’s been an across the board disappointing season. It’s good to get another shot at the world cup and see what I can do,” Cockney said. “It was a good year to learn what works and what doesn’t work. With no world championships or Olympics, it’s not a bad year to learn about that.”
To regenerate his love for the sport, Cockney has volunteered with the Ski Fit North program with Beckie Scott. He recently spent a day with Exshaw students, teaching them how to ski.
“It was really refreshing for me, to work with the students from Exshaw. It helped remind me about what kept me skiing when I was young. They kept wanting to go down bigger and bigger hills,” Cockney said.
Ski Tour Canada launches in Gatineau on March 1. The Canmore races begin March 8 at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
