Haywood NorAm Western Canadian Championships
World Cup “test event” – January 15, 2015
Lake Louise, Banff National Park.
Many skiers in Canada are already aware that in March of 2016, Canada will host the final cross country ski races of the FIS World Cup season. Not everyone knows this January 2015 event is actually a prelude to 2016 – the first ever FIS cross country race in Lake Louise (subject to review and approval by Parks Canada Agency).
An Invitation To Participate As Racers or Spectators
On Thursday January 15, 2015, the Alberta World Cup Society will stage a “test event” for the 2016 World Cup race. This will be a 10km, classic technique, interval start race – using the existing ski trails in the upper Lake Louise area.
Racers
Register at www.zone4.ca. This race is part of the CCC Haywood NorAm Race Series (Jan 15 to 18 in Lake Louise and Canmore) and is a first-ever opportunity for masters’ athletes to compete in an interval start race on a proposed World Cup course in Lake Louise.
Free Masters/Recreational Category
While intended primarily for the FIS “Open” class (Senior Men/Women and Junior Men/Women), we are including a free “Masters/Recreational” category and invite adult skiers who want to experience professionally groomed trails in a race format at Lake Louise. The 10km course will follow a course similar to the annual Lake Louise Loppet – starting on the lake, down the Tramline and up Moraine Lake Road onto the Fairview loop, then back down across the lake and concluding with a short steep loop in front of the Chateau Lake Louise to the finish line on the lake. The trails themselves will not be widened for this event, and will retain their historic “look and feel” – this is part of the attraction of this event.
Spectators, Recreational Skiers and Trail Closures
Grooming of the course will begin on January 5 and continue through to race day on January 15. At intermittent times, and for only brief periods, some trails may be closed while grooming with the large machine is in progress.
On “Official Training Day” (January 14) and Race Day (January 15), from 08:00 until approximately 13:00, the Tramline, Fairview, and a portion of the Telemark loop will be closed to the public. Moraine Lake Road will remain open, but recreational skiers will be asked to stay to the left (east) side of the road as far as Fairview junction (2 km).
Ski Tour Canada 2016 is an exhilarating eight-stage cross country skiing event across Canada that will highlight some of Canada’s most iconic and historic ski destinations. The world’s top athletes will meet in Canada for this marquee FIS World Cup competition – the first time that Canada will host the 2015/16 World Cup season finale. The cumulative timed event will feature a mix of distance and sprint races that will build excitement and spectatorship as the final race approaches and athletes compete to win the coveted Crystal Globes for the 2015/16 World Cup season.
Additional Information can be found here. Inquires may be sent to info@albertaworldcup.com.