Photo by Pam Doyle

Photo by Pam Doyle

Ski Paradise Canmore greeted cross-country skiing Swedish national team with perfect snow conditions and ideal cross-country courses. Sprint coach Arild Monsen will lead the team in the Rocky Mountains.

Swedish national team arrived via London and Calgary in Canmore, where cross-country races 1988 Olympics were carried out and where Emil Joensson won his first WC race two years ago.

"Great to be back I like this place very much!" said Emil in blinding sunlight before he went out for a light training. Conditions are absolutely perfect.

Anders Sodergren, Björn Lind, Hanna Falk, Theodore Peterson and Jesper Modin performed a longer training session in a light pace.

"I've been here before and seen both bears and cougars. Nature gives me energy," says Anders who is getting in a good shape after a tough start of this season.

Anders will fight on Friday when men go 15 km (f) and ladies 10 km (f).Sprint in classical technique is scheduled on Saturday.

Other skiers of Swedish Olympic squad will arrive during Wednesday aand Thursday as some have been at high High Altitude training (1800 meters) five or six-hour drive from Canmore.

The atmosphere is phenomenal. "I am glad to be here" says Theodore Peterson.

Arild Monsen leads the Swedish squad in Canmore. Arild lived in Canmore for a year and trained the Canadian national team. He knows everything about the mountains, the terrain and the people who live here. His knowledge has helped the team and has made the initial days interesting.

Other teams in Canmore already include Russia, Belarus, Germany and Poland.  High voltage last World Cup before Olympics is close!

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