SWEDEN – Canmore’s Russell Kennedy knows a thing or two about putting in work in the off-season.
For a decade, the 30-year-old cross-country skier has represented Canada internationally, making his first appearance on the world cup stage in 2012.
But for the past 10 months during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2018 Olympian experienced a different type of off-season better suited for being a professional athlete, and the results are showing.
“It was the year I tried to strive for every year, but I haven’t been able to training-wise because things have come up,” said Kennedy. “I did the amount of hours I wanted to [in training], I was consistent and a lot of small things.”
Kennedy operates Black + White photo|film, a local wedding photography/videography business with his girlfriend, and when COVID hit, the prolific wedding industry was one of the first to take a blow.
But while Kennedy wasn’t filming someone’s big day, he worked toward his.
At Canada’s first two world cups in Finland and Sweden in late January, the evidence of Kennedy’s extended training season showed with two top-30 results and some of the best racing of his career.
He stacked up world cup points with a 29th in 30-kilometre skiathlon on Jan. 23, and then a week later, Kennedy matched the career-best in distance with a 29th in 15-kilometre skate-ski race.
“Going into Lahti, I was just so confident with what I had done this summer,” he said. “I knew I could get a good result and once I got it, my confidence was just amplified a bit, and I knew I could do it again the weekend after. It feels good to have that confidence in your training behind you.”
RESULTS ❗️Canucks celebrate career best finishes on World Cup. Cendrine Browne battles to 23rd in women’s 10km F. Russell Kennedy matches his best ever distance result from last week skiing to 29th! @Cendrine_Browne @rusyspurs
— Nordiq Canada (@NordiqCanada) January 29, 2021
https://t.co/6MHNmcB5y4
The Canadians entered the world cup season roughly two months after it started, which Kennedy thinks might have been a disadvantage for the Canucks. However, on a positive note, he thinks his best is yet to come.
"Usually, it takes a few races to get into the right place, to be able to push as hard as you want," he said. "I think it will get better."
While working toward his own legacy, Kennedy is also a guide for decorated Paralympian Brian McKeever. McKeever is living with Stargardt’s disease, which impairs vision acuity, and Kennedy has guided him for about five years.
Considered one of the best Para Nordic skiers ever, McKeever has mentored Kennedy, and he's been able to find the balance with all the different training elements of a world-class cross-country skier.
“The camaraderie between me, Nish (Graham Nishikawa), the other guide, and Brian, is just always super helpful,” said Kennedy. “He was around all summer and he was doing some really hard training this summer and we kind of just spit-balled off each other and it got me pretty inspired to really push it.”
Being a part of the Para Nordic program is positive reenforcement, Kennedy said, who were equally excited for his recent results.
“We have a group [text] chat and when I was getting top 30s they were messaging and it was awesome. It’s a super fun community to be part of,” Kennedy said.
As far as aspirations for the rest of the season, Kennedy has his eyes set on the world ski championships, which is the biggest race event of 2021.
Taking place between Feb. 22 and March 7 in Oberstdorf, Germany, Kennedy said he’s trying his best not to put the world champs on a pedestal.
“For me, this year, I’m all about world champs. I just kind of want to race there and do my best,” said Kennedy. “I’m just excited to see how the rest of the races go and I’m hoping to just keep improving increments until the end of time and see where I go.”