Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team

Halti - Providing Clothing to Canada's Top Nordic Performers

Canada's Cross-Country Ski Team is completing their off-season training and set to don their world-leading new Halti clothing to begin another season in pursuit of the international podium.

Halti, who has developed and produced high-quality outdoor outfits and equipment for three decades, cemented a relationship with Cross Country Canada in 2006 which extends until 2011. Over the term of the sponsorship, Halti is providing outer wear, backpacks, tailored racing gear and an assortment of world-leading products designed to ensure the Canadian team has the perfect fit to win.

Fresh off one of its strongest summer training seasons yet, where the national team spent time on Canada's fabulous Haig Glacier, while also utilizing the restored Canmore Nordic Centre - home to the 1988 Olympic Winter Games - the sprint specialists started the World Cup season  at the end of October in Dűsseldorf, Germany.

The senior team led by Olympic silver medalist, Sara Renner who returns after taking a year off to have a baby and Chandra Crawford, Olympic gold medalist will balance the early competitive season between European World Cup sites and domestic Continental Cup races when the 2007-08 Haywood NorAm series kicks off in Canmore, Alta., November 22. The two Olympic  medalist, will be joined by multiple World Cup medalist Devon Kershaw and the rising Canadian senior team including: Drew Goldsack, George Grey, Stefan Kuhn and Sean Crooks.

One of the main athletes to watch over the 2007-08 campaign will be Brian McKeever's continued pursuit to race at a high level in both the able-bodied and Para-Nordic World Cup level. Brian made history last year when he became the first Canadian athlete with a disability to ski in an able-bodied World Championship race. He finished 24th in the 15 km at the World Championships in Sapporo. McKeever's goal is to become the first athlete with a disability to compete at both the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2010.  He will juggle his 2007-08 campaign to include appearances in both able-bodied and Para-Nordic World Cup events.

While selective athletes will ski in the pre-Christmas World Cups and the Tour de Ski, the entire national team will be out in full-force when Canada hosts the FIS World Cup at the Canmore Nordic Centre, January 22-26, 2008. The Canada stop on the World Cup will be the first World Cup race for Sara Renner following her year-off. Renner will headline a talented Canadian squad focused on producing medal results.

The season will also be highlighted with the team's first trip to the 2010 Olympic Venue in the Callaghan Valley near Whistler, B.C. where they will compete in the 2008 Haywood National Ski Championships. The event will mark the first competitive races for the national team at the Olympic venue.

The full Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team will be announced later this year.

For more information on Cross Country Canada, please visit www.cccski.com