Calgary (AB), Canada – Canada Ski Cross (CSX) is expanding the number of domestic race events following a surge in interest after the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the governing body for ski cross in Canada announced last week.nCSX Director Dave Ellis said the national sport organization is expanding the number of domestic races this season and has hired Chad Weir, who has 15 years of combined experience in alpine and ski cross race events including a stint as Chief of Start and Starter for Ski Cross at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, as Director, National Programs and Events.
“Ski cross has experienced a noticeable peak in interest among young Canadians following the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. We are now increasing the amount resources aimed at growing our sport domestically and at the provincial level, so that we can continue developing Olympic champions like Ashleigh McIvor in the future,” said Ellis.
The 2010-11 race schedule will include Nor-Am Cup races in: Blue Mountain, Ontario; Big White, British Columbia; and Red Mountain, British Columbia, along with a World Cup race in Blue Mountain and the Canadian Championships in Lake Louise, Alberta.
“Our focus for domestic events this coming season is to continue building the scale, efficiencies and ‘cool factor’ of ski cross as we increase the number of events,” said Weir. “We are committed to increasing the number of officials, volunteers, coaches and SX courses, so that more kids can experience the sport of ski cross while at the same time, bringing ski cross and our athletes closer to the general public.”
Ski Cross made is debut in Canada in the winter of 2007, with Canada Ski Cross establishing a World Cup Team for the 2008-09 season. Canada Ski Cross finished on top of the FIS Nation’s Cup standings last season, led by Ashleigh McIvor, of Whistler, British Columbia, who became the first ever women’s Olympic Ski Cross champion in 2010, and 2010 Winter X-Games gold medalist Chris Del Bosco, also of Whistler.
The 2011 FIS World Championships take place in the U.S. at Deer Valley, Utah, with races scheduled for Feb. 3 and 4, 2011. The FIS World Cup stops in Canada, at Blue Mountain, Ontario, the following week.
Canada Ski Cross Race Schedule:
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Deer Valley, Utah, USA – Feb. 3 to 4, 2011
X-GAMES
- Aspen, Colo., USA – Jan. 28 to 30, 2011
WORLD CUP
- Innichen/San Candido, Italy – Dec. 18 to 19, 2010
- St. Johann (Tirol), Austria – Jan. 7, 2011
- Alpe d’Huez, France – Jan. 12, 2011
- Les Contamines, France – Jan. 16, 2011
- Grasgehren, Germany – Jan. 29, 2011
- Blue Mountain, Ontario, Canada – Feb. 11, 2011
- Grindelwald, Switzerland – Mar. 3, 2011
- Meiringen-Hasliberg, Switzerland – Mar. 6, 2011
- Branas, Sweden – Mar. 13, 2011
- Myrkdalen-Voss, Norway – Mar. 19, 2011
NOR-AM CUP
- Mt. Hood Meadows, Ore., USA – Jan. 19 to 20, 2011
- Steamboat Springs, Colo., USA – Jan. 26 to 27, 2011
- Alpine Meadows, Calif., USA – Feb. 3 to 4, 2011
- Blue Mountain, Ontario, Canada – Feb. 12 to 13, 2011
- Big White Ski Resort, British Columbia, Canada – Mar. 4 to 7, 2011
- Red Mountain Resort, British Columbia, Canada – Mar. 9 to 12, 2011
CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada – Apr. 1 to 3, 2011