Sharing down time with teammates and competitors from other nations during an international sporting competition is typically a highlight of the experience. During the COVID-19 pandemic, not so much. “I remember very clearly the third or fourth night we were here, when we actually started eating at buffets with other teams, I remember walking into the room – okay, we’re eating in the same room as three or four different teams, all from the same buffet!” recalled...
He spent a spell as a reindeer herder up in the wilds of northern Russia; over two decades ago, his younger self set out on a wildly ambitious, three-year Paris-to-Montreal bicycling trip with $280 in his pocket and faithful dog Misha along as sidekick. He’s conducted over 1,000 lectures to school groups on the benefits of activity aligned to the outdoors and worked alongside Nordiq Canada instructors on how best to deliver the cross-country ski message. Benoit...
Herman Smith-Johannsen probably never imagined that one day his nickname, Jackrabbit, would inspire thousands of Canadian kids in the sport of cross-country skiing. The Jackrabbit program, run in countless ski clubs across the nation, has its origins in Manitoba, where in the early 1970s the then newly-formed Cross Country Ski Association of Manitoba realized it was missing a youth development component. In 1976, the CCSAM held its first junior ski program; 10...
Nearing a year and a half ago, on the outskirts of Bonnyville (pop. 6,000), nestled in the Lakeland District of northern Alberta between Cold Lake and St. Paul, Les Parsons married a local lass, thereby making her home his. The couple tied the knot on Friday, June 21st, the summer solstice, outside, in the glories of nature, at Lookout Point. The ceremony was held on a cross-country ski trail. No coincidence there. Not with Les Parsons being a familiar face on the...
If Allison McArdle had a wish, it would be to see women clamouring to become high-performance cross-country skiing coaches. It’s still a long-term objective, but the Nordiq Canada women’s coaching mentorship program is at least a step in the right direction. “The goal is to take women who are at that competition development level essentially, and try to find them a mentor so they can continue to expand their knowledge and confidence,” described McArdle, the chair...
