XCOttawa.ca enjoys the coaching services of two highly experienced and dedicated coaches, Pavol Skvaridlo, and John Langstone. Applications were taken in July, and the team was named in early August. There are currently fourteen athletes. Our members include athletes who have been members of the National Development Team, experienced University-level racers, and promising young junior and senior-aged competitors.
About half our team remained in Ottawa for the summer, and this allowed for us to hold training sessions together roughly three times a week. Now that all the athletes are in town, we have been training together between 3 and 5 times during the week at various locations in Ottawa and Gatineau Park.
Our coaches have provided a number of innovative and fun training methods. We are slowly getting famous for our use of scooters for classic ski training. More details of scooter training and other methods will be available shortly at our Web site.
Our racing schedule for the winter promises to be both exciting and demanding, as we will participate in the Continental Cup and Canada Cup Series, the National Championships, and other exciting events such as the Keskinada Loppet.
XCOttawa.ca is more than simply a racing team. XCOttawa.ca will work to promote the sport of cross-country skiing at both recreational and competitive levels within the national capital area, as well as throughout Ontario and across Canada. The XCOttawa.ca program and its athletes will offer clinics, lessons and tips on skiing and training for endurance sports for people of all ability levels. It will promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and encourage people to take up outdoor sports, particularly cross-country skiing.
Applications for next winter's team will likely be accepted starting in May, 2002. For more information, please visit our Web site, email, or call us at 613 234 8022 (Karl Saidla)
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