2020 – 2021 Alberta World Cup
Academy Athletes
Annika Richardson Info
Cross-Country Ski Athlete
Year of Birth: 1998
Ski Club: Lappe Nordic
Years on Academy: This will be my first year with the academy!
Education: Slowly working on a HBSc in Geology
Career Highlights:
- Represented Canada at the Youth Olympic Games in 2019, World Juniors in 2017/18, World Cup Finals 2017/19
Favorite Place to Ski: Silverstar and Sovereign Lake
Favorite Recovery Meal: Smoothie Bowls and Coffee
Interesting Fact about Me: My current project is to successfully make a delicious sourdough starter.
Instagram: annika.richardson
Benita Peiffer Info
Cross-Country Ski Athlete
Year of Birth: 2000
Ski Club: Whistler Nordic
Years on Academy: This will be my first year with the academy!
Education: University of Calgary
Career Highlights:
- 2019 National Sprint Champion
- 2019 2 * 2nd place at the Canada Games
- 2019 Junior National Ski Team
- 2019 Senior National Development Team Biathlon
- 2018 Junior National Ski Team
- 2018 11th at Biathlon World Juniors
Favorite Place to Ski: Sparenmoos, Switzerland
Favorite Recovery Meal: Waffles or Pasta
Interesting Fact about Me: I love bunnies and I can speak German
Personal Sponsors: Rossignol, Nordic Ski Grinds, SWIX
Instagram: benitapeiffer
Elizabeth Elliott Info
Cross-Country Ski Athlete
Year of Birth: 2000
Ski Club: Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club
Years on Academy: 2nd year
Education: Bachelor of Biological Science at the University of Calgary
Your favorite place to ski? Silver Star or my home trails in Revelstoke BC
What is your best recovery meal? Nick Randall’s Finish Pancakes
Interesting Fact about yourself? I can play the violin
Hannah Jirousek Info
Cross-Country Ski Athlete
Year of Birth: 2000
Ski Club: Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club
Years on Academy: 2
Education: Bachelor of Nursing (RN)
Career Highlights:
- One of my favorite races was the 2018 Nationals team sprint in Thunder Bay with my teammate, Amanda Thomson, where we finished 4th
- Another race highlight was racing the AWG 2018 team relay with my little sister and Amanda, where we finished 1st
Favorite Place to Ski: Whitehorse Cross Country ski trails!
Favorite Recovery Meal: Canmore Pasta
Interesting Fact about Me: I speak three languages- English, French and Czech and I LOVE dogs!
Instagram: h_jirousek
Kolibri Droobish Info
Ski Club: Valhalla Hills Nordic Ski Club
Years on Academy: 1
Education: Athabasca University (taking a couple courses)
Career Highlights: Placing 4th at Nationals 2019, racing in Norway for three months
Favorite Place to Ski: Sovereign Lake or in the Rondanes in Norway
Favorite Recovery Meal: Bagel and cream cheese
Interesting Fact about Me: Played violin since I was 6
Personal Sponsors: Local shop in Nakusp called Shon’s Bike and Ski
Instagram: kolibri_333
Equipment: Fischer skis, Madhus ski, Lazl poles, Madhus and Rossignol boots
Matthew Strum Info
Year of Birth: 1995
Ski Club: Canmore Nordic / Foothills Nordic
Years on Academy: 2
Education: National Sport School – Calgary
Career Highlights:
- 2 Tours on IBC Cup Circuit
- Competing at the Youth Junior World Championships for Biathlon on 3 separate occasions
Favorite Place to Ski: Whistler, BC
Interesting Fact about Me: Really into mountain biking
Personal Sponsors: Clint Cawsey, Your name here!
Instagram: matthewstrum
Introduction Video: Matt Strum
Nate Gerwing Info
Biathlete
Year of Birth: 1995
Years on Academy: This will be my first year with the academy!
Career Highlights:
- Bronze in 2016 Canadian Biathlon Nationals Mixed Relay
Favorite Place to Ski: Silver Star
Favorite Recovery Meal: Cheeseburgers
Interesting Fact about Me: I also race Enduro Mountain Biking at the National level
Equipment: Rossignol
Instagram: nategerwing
Paige Latta Info
Cross-Country Ski Athlete
Year of Birth: 2000
Ski Club: Sovereign Lake Nordic Center
Years on Academy: This will be my first year on The Academy!
Education: I am currently in my first year of Sciences at the University of Calgary but I will be switching into Kinesiology next fall
Career Highlights:
- 4th Nationals 20km
- Training and racing in Europe
- Getting on the podium for mixed team relay at Nationals
Favorite Place to Ski: Sovereign Lake
Favorite Recovery Meal: Pasta and garlic bread
Interesting Fact about Me: I can play the drums
Personal Sponsors: Stussi Sport, Hilltop Subaru, Loland and Taves Dentistry, Phoenix Steakhouse, Paradigm Naturopathic, Alpina
Instagram: Paigelatta
Equipment: Swix poles, Alpina boots, Fisher skis
Thomas Manktelow Info
Cross-Country Ski Athlete
Year of Birth: 1998
Ski Club: Canmore Nordic Ski Club
Years on Academy: 4
Career Highlights:
- Midget NorAm Champion
- 2nd Canadian National Championships – Sprint
- 3rd Overall 2014 Canadian National Championships
- 1st 2014 Western Canadian Championships – Sprint
- Eastern Canadian Champion 2016
Favorite Place to Ski: Canmore Nordic Centre
Favorite Recovery Meal: Smoothie and eggs
Words I live by: “Set your goals high and don’t stop until you get there”
Interesting Fact about Thomas: He can ride a unicycle!
Personal Sponsors: Rossignol, Unlimited Skate and Snow
Facebook: Thomas Manktelow
Instagram: thomasmanktelow
Equipment: Rossignol
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Anna Parent Info
Year of Birth: 2000
Ski Club: Canmore Nordic
Years on Academy: First Year!
Education: General Science – MRU
Career Highlights: US junior national champion in 2019
Favorite Place to Ski: Truckee, California
Favorite Recovery Meal:
Interesting Fact about Me: I used to be a level 9 competitive gymnast for many years before retiring in 2018 and starting to ski race again!
Personal Sponsors Rundle Sport
Instagram: @anna.parent
Equipment: Fischer/Swix
Beth Granstrom Info
Cross-Country Ski Athlete
Year of Birth: 2000
Ski Club: Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club
Years on Academy: 2
Education: University of Calgary, Biological Sciences
Career Highlights:
- 2017 Westerns 1st place in classic int. 10km
- 2017 Nationals 1st place classic int. 10km
- 2017 Nationals 3rd place classic sprints
- 2017 Vernon NorAm 3rd place 5km mass start classic
- 2018 World junior trials 5th skate sprints
- 2017 junior girl 1st aggregate at nationals
- 2018 Junior National Ski Team
- 2018 Nationals 2nd in interval start 10km classic
Favorite Place to Ski: Silver Star
Interesting Fact about Me: I can ride a unicycle. My twin sister and I are the sixth generation of our family to have been raised in Revelstoke.
Instagram: bethlgranstrom
Fred Albrechtson Info
Ski Club: NickelPlate Nordic Centre
Years on Academy: This is my first year
Education: Bachelor of Kinesiology, University of Calgary
Career Highlights: 1st Western Canada Cup 10km classic 2020
3rd Western Canada Cup 15km skate 2020
12th World Junior Trials 10km classic 2020
10th World Junior Trials 30km skate 2020
2nd Vernon NorAm 10km classic 2019
5th 2019 Nationals 10km classic
Favorite Place to Ski: Seefeld, Austria
Favorite Recovery Meal: Homemade Lasagne
Interesting Fact about Me: I’ve skied on the Dachstein Glacier
Personal Sponsors: The Warehouse Group, Jakroo Custom Designs, Nordic Ski Grinds, NickelPlate Nordic Centre
Instagram: fred_albaturkey
Equipment: Fischer and Swix
Hannah Skelton Info
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Larissa Black Info
Ski Club: Sea to Sky Nordics
Years on Academy: First Year
Education: BCIT – Forest and Natural Areas Management
Career Highlights: Junior IBU – Top 40 (Sprint) 2019
Junior IBU – Top 40 (Pursuit) 2019
2019 Canada Winter Games Gold Medal (Pursuit)
Attended World Junior Biathlon Championships in 2019 and 2020
Favorite Place to Ski: Lenzerheide, Switzerland
Favorite Recovery Meal: Smoothies
Interesting Fact about Me: I am from Squamish, BC, I and love to mountain bike and hike in my free time!
Personal Sponsors: Alta Lake Electric, Squamish.com, The Joinery/Locavore, Swix, Rossignol, National Firearms Association
Instagram: larissablackk
Equipment: Rossignol, Swix
Maya MacIsaac Jones Info
Cross-Country Ski Athlete
Year of Birth: 1995
Ski Club: Rocky Mountain Racers
Years on Academy: 2
Education: Working on Undergraduate degree in Psychology
Career Highlights:
- 2018 and 2019 Sprint National Champion
- 2019 Senior World Championships Team Member
- 18th place at the 2018 U13 World Championships
- Former Senior National Ski Team Member (2016-2019)
- Former Junior National Team Member (2011-2015)
Favorite Place to Ski: Gatineau Park
Favorite Recovery Meal: Pasta
Interesting Fact about Me: I’ve re-read Harry Potter more times than I can count
Personal Sponsors: Trail Sports, Home Hardware Athabasca, Paintbox Lodge
Equipment: Rossignol, Alpina and SWIX
Instagram: mayamacisaacjones
Nicolas Bennett Info
Cross-Country Ski Athlete
Year of Birth: 2000
Ski Club: NWT High Performance Ski Team
Years on Academy: 2
Education: Second year Bachelor of Arts U of C
Career Highlights:
- Nationals 2019 30 km Classic
- Silver at Arctic Winter Games 2018
- 9/72 1.2 km Skate Sprint at Canadian Nationals 2018
- 4th at Western Canadian Champs in 10km Classic
- Silver at Eastern Canadian Champs in 3km Prologue
Favorite Place to Ski: Canmore, AB
Favorite Recovery Meal: Salmon
Interesting Fact about Me: I love the outdoors, travelling, Scuba Diving, eating tacos, and I am a major coffee enthusiast
Personal Sponsors: Rossignol and Barren Ground Coffee Co.
Instagram: Bennett_nicolas
Romeo Champagne Info
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Amelia Wells Info
Ski Club: Strathcona Nordic Ski Club
Years on Academy: First year!
Education: University of Calgary Bachelor of Health Sciences – Honours Health and Society program
Career Highlights:
Favorite Place to Ski: Mt. Washington Ski Resort on a clear day when I can see the sea
Favorite Recovery Meal: Peanut butter and apple
Interesting Fact about Me: I love Vegemite on toast
Personal Sponsors:
Instagram: wells_amelia
Equipment Fischer, Salomon, Swix and Alpina
Dahria Beatty Info
Cross-Country Ski Athlete
Year of Birth: 1994
Hometown: Whitehorse, YK
Ski Club: Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club
Years on Academy: 8
Education: Currently working on my Bachelor of Management in Marketing through Athabasca University
Career Highlights
- 16th Dresden World Cup Skate Sprint
- 24th 2019 Lahti World Cup Skate Sprint
- 1st 2019 Ski Nationals 10 km Skate
- 15th Ski Tour Canada – Canmore classic sprint stage
- 2015-2016 Haywood NorAm series winner and Buff Sprint NorAm series winner
- 25th -2016 Davos World Cup – Skate Sprint
- 12th – 2017 U23 World Championships – Classic Sprint
Favorite Place to Ski: Sovereign Lakes, BC and Mt McIntyre trails in Whitehorse
Favorite Recovery Meal: Raspberry, ginger, banana smoothie topped with coconut, slivered almonds and dark chocolate chips
Words I live by: “Great things never came from comfort zones” “Happiness is a warm butt” ~ Every woman who skis.
Interesting Fact about Me: I am 23 years old and have always lived with a dog! and my favorite color is purple
Personal Sponsors:
Ryanwood Exploration
Website: www.dahriabeatty.com
Instagram: dahriabeatty
Twitter: @DahriaBeatty
Facebook: dahriabeattyskier
Equipment:
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Gillian Gowlling Info
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Keiran Marchand Info
Ski Club: Nelson Nordic Ski Club
Years on Academy: First Year!
Education: Mechanical Engineering Technology, SAIT
Career Highlights: U-24 National Team
2020 Payak 30km – 3rd
2019 IBU trials – 3rd in Junior
Favorite Place to Ski: Callaghan Country – Whistler, BC
Favorite Recovery Meal: Egg and bacon wrap
Interesting Fact about Me: Minor crippling addiction to coffee
Personal Sponsors:
Instagram: keiran_marchand
Equipment: Rossignol
Laurence Dumais Info
Cross-Country Ski Athlete
Year of Birth: 1997
Ski Club: Fondeurs – Laurentides
Year on Academy: 3
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Business, concentrating in Accounting
Skiing Achievements you are proud of:
– 2012 nationals champion
– 3rd in the aggregate, 2013 Whistler nationals
– Quebec cups champion, 2014
– 3rd in the classic sprint, Thunder Bay nationals 2015
Instagram: @laurence.dumais
Facebook: Laurence Dumais
Interesting fact about Me? Used to be a competitve road biker before becoming competitve skier.
What is your favorite place to ski race: Feutersoey, Switzerland
What is your favorite recovery meal: Lots of pasta!
Any inspirational quote that you would like to share? “Don’t lose the grip on the dreams of the past, you must fight just to keep them alive” – Survivor guitarist Frankie Sullivan and keyboardist Jim Peterik
What equipment do you use? skis, poles, boots and bindings.
Introduction Video: Laurence Dumais
Natalie Benoit Info
Ski Club: Caledonia Nordic
Years on Academy: 1
Education: University of Calgary Kinesiology
Career Highlights: Earning a top ten at Nationals in Whistler while my little brothers watched and cheered for me.
Participating in the Canada Winter Games relay with my team mates Gillian and Larissa and earning a medal with them.
Favorite Place to Ski: Sovereign Lake Nordic
Favorite Recovery Meal: Chocolate Covered Almonds
Interesting Fact about Me: One season, when I was younger, I was disqualified and penalized so often that people stated calling me “dsq” as a joke.
Personal Sponsors:
Instagram: nat.benoit
Equipment: Madshus
Nicholas Randall Info
Cross-Country Ski Athlete
Year of Birth: 2000
Club: Big Thunder Nordic
Years on Academy: 2
Education: University of Calgary, Majoring in Chemistry
Career Highlights:
- 9th – YOB Aggregate Canadain National Championships 2019
- 8th – Canadian National Championships 2018 – Sprint
- 10th – Canadian National Championships 2016 – 5km Cl Int
- 2nd – OCup #1 2016 – 5km Cl Int
Favorite Place to Ski: Canmore Nordic Centre
Favorite Recovery Meal: Tuna Melts
Interesting Fact about Me: I lived in France and raced with La Féclaz during the 2016/17 season
Instagram: nicholasmrandall
Sonjaa Schmidt Info
Ski Club: Whitehorse Ski Club
Years on Academy: 1
Education: Electrical Engineering at SAIT
Career Highlights: Placing top five at the 2019 nationals
Going to the U.S. nationals in 2018
Travelling to Greenland for racing against the arctic
Favorite Place to Ski: Whitehorse and Canmore
Favorite Recovery Meal: Butter chicken and rice
Interesting Fact about Me: My dogs name is Swix
Personal Sponsors: ACS Mechanical
Instagram: sonjaa_schmidt02
Equipment: Fischer
Swix
Lazl
