Arrived in Canmore

We arrived in Canmore at about noon and checked into the Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge. It was fun having Vojta in the front passenger seat. He is from the Czech Republic and on a working holiday visa. Vojta raced as an XC Skier through university and has been working in North Vancouver as barista at Brazza Coffee house. That's where he met Jake. Vojta quite his job at Brazza to come on this trip and work as wax support. He has the right idea, life is too short to miss opportunities. It was great to see him with his eyes pressed to the windshield of the van taking in all the glory of the Rocky Mountains as we drove through the vast stretches of wilderness.

We got to the trails and moved into or wax room. There is a whole building dedicated to waxing with 20 – 30 rooms for the various ski teams. A whole slope is set up for glide wax testing.

On this trip, from Hollyburn XC Ski Team. are twins Jenn and Quinn Wildi, Nic and Seb Foellmer, (also twins) 13 y.o. Katie Weaver, who is skiing in a older age category, Sam Morris, Adam Woods, Kalum Utley and Lucas Putnam-Rea. From the club but skiing with the BC Ski Team (BCST) are Zayne Heyes and Fred Weaver. Zayne’s sister is skiing with the Callaghan Valley Training Centre (CVTC). Hope I didn’t miss anybody. Jake is actually coaching with the BCST and all the above groups are working together. All of these young athletes have been skiing at Hollyburn Cross Country Ski Area since a young age.

"An army can't march on an empty stomach", did Napoleon say that?? Well we have Murray Heyes slaving in the kitchen and preparing 3 meals a day for the kids. Murray takes great joy in playfully harassing each one of them during meal time.

The young athletes are excited about tomorrow’s team sprint race. Teams of two will do 4 laps of a 800 metre course.