Way-back Wednesday

by Bob Truman on January 23, 2019

in XC

Jan 21, 2010: Introducing Canada’s xc ski team for the Olympics.

I took the above photo in January 2010 at the introduction of Canada’s xc ski team for the 2010 winter olympics in Vancouver. How many can you name?  

You may remember the 50K classic race where Devon Kershaw missed the podium by less than one second, and was only 1.6 seconds behind the winner. That was after skiing for two hours and five minutes. It was exciting to watch but heartbreaking, too. 

Dasha Gaiazova on Moraine Lake road. Nov 3, 2011.

Dasha Gaiazova and Sara Renner had the best women’s result with a 7th place in the team sprint. 

There was some controversy, too. Brian McKeever was on the team but was never chosen to participate in a race. Brian McKeever’s Disappointment

Dasha Atkins today.

Where are they now?

I had the pleasure of chatting with Dasha Gaiazova (now Atkins) over lattes yesterday and promised to dig out these old photos. Dasha has retired from competitive skiing, settled in Calgary with husband Peter and baby Kristina, and is now helping others become better skiers through her Space Dogs ski club. 

The names of the olympians in the top photo: George Grey, Brian McKeever, Ivan Babikov, Stefan Kuhn, Devon Kershaw, Madeleine Williams, Sara Renner. Front row: Chandra Crawford, Periane Jones, Dasha Gaiazova. Missing: Alex Harvey.

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Tyrwhitt Loop

January 22, 2019
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This ski trip didn’t meet my expectations. When I’m doing my all-time favourite loop, I want everything to be perfect!

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Tuesday morning update

January 22, 2019

From the sound of Chuck’s trip report, skiers were out taking advantage of the loppet trails yesterday. I enjoyed hearing about the excellent conditions around couch headquarters from Helen.  There’s a bit of snow in the forecast.

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Lake Louise to Banff loppet hi-lites

January 20, 2019
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An additional 90 photos are posted here More Loppet Photos. These are mostly participants who were on Leg 3 between Castle Lookout and Castle Junction.  Congratulations to Jon Arne Enevoldsen, fastest

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Who can answer Paul’s questions?

January 20, 2019

Please help me with some newbie questions about the MAP LEGEND and TRAIL SIGNAGE for Alberta Parks. See the live trail report data at https://skitrails.info/report/plpp as reference to my questions. 1) Please confirm whether the green / blue / black outer boundary colour of a trail represents it’s relative difficulty similar to downhill skiing / […]

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It’s a “good news” Saturday morning

January 19, 2019

Update Sunday Jan 20: Most of the trails at Mt Shark were trackset last night. Check the Live Grooming Report for details.  Ray gave us the good news late last night that Lake O’Hara fire road is now trackset. He also added…

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Kananaskis Village trails

January 18, 2019
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The phrase “thin but skiable” is one we’ll remember from this low-snow winter. I was losing hope that we’d ever see any tracksetting on these trails,

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Skogan Pass and Hummingbird Plume

January 17, 2019
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I had only planned to ski up a little ways on Skogan Pass so I could tell my anxious readers how far you had to walk to reach skiable snow.

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Congratulations to Simona and Cheeky

January 17, 2019

The new Kananaskis ski trail brochures are out, and two of our regular readers and trip reporters, Simona and Cheeky, had their photo selected for the front of the PLPP brochure.  I took the photo of Simona and Cheeky on Dec 10, 2015

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Thursday morning smiles

January 17, 2019

Today, Calgarians are waking up to 2 cm of light, fluffy snow on their driveways. I had forgotten what it was like to use a snow shovel.  Forecasts are predicting a couple more cm.  I’m happy to see 4 cm of snow in the forecast for the Castle Junction area in Banff National Park. It’s […]

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Following in Chuck’s tracks

January 16, 2019

Chuck’s backcountry ski trips and the photos he’s been sending have been nothing short of spectacular.  While skiing Goat Creek I’ve often stopped at the intersection where Chuck headed south to Rink’s Camp and wondered what was out there. I’m thinking the cougar was following

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Lake Louise to Banff loppet preview

January 16, 2019
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The Lake Louise to Banff loppet is always an exciting adventure into the unknown. There is no other ski race like it, and I have been privileged to be a participant

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MaSid’s Pipestone river couch

January 15, 2019
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I spent most of my day taking photos of the loppet trails along the Bow Valley Parkway. For those doing the Lake Louise to Banff loppet on Sunday, I’ll post those photos tomorrow.

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Who made these tracks?

January 14, 2019

Hi Bob We saw these tracks on Saturday making our way up to the Kananaskis Lookout The large one is approx. 3” to 3-1/2” across No visible claws with in the print?! Was thinking cat family The pattern has me stumped Any idea what they are?  -Deb

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As Irene says…”Wheeee!”

January 13, 2019
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There’s nothing more enjoyable than 6K of downhill fun on excellent tracksetting and good, fast snow on Pocaterra.  Upper Pocaterra was trackset last night

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Later…

January 13, 2019

I’ll have an update later tonight from my excellent day on the middle trails of PLPP. In the mean time, look at Chuck’s incredible photos from Tokumm Creek. If there was ever a trip report to inspire people to go backcountry,

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Saturday photos

January 12, 2019

Thanks for all the trip reports and photos.  Global news had a story tonight on the snowmaking(or lack of) at Confederation and Shaganappi golf courses. Calgary ski trails close as snowmaking equipment sits idle

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Saturday morning update

January 12, 2019

If you wish to see the spectacular sight of Shadow Lake and Mt Ball pictured above, read Chuck’s trip report from yesterday. The Trip Reports page will give you a good overview of the conditions on most ski trails.  Mt Shark trails

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Friday morning update

January 11, 2019

Most of us have noticed a significant increase in hikers and snowshoers on the trails this year. Would anyone like to speculate on why we aren’t seeing the usual signage at Lake Louise this winter?

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Castle Lookout to Baker Creek

January 10, 2019
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It’s a lot nicer to ski this on a sunny day, but even on an overcast day like yesterday, the scenery is spectacular.  I skied from Castle Lookout to the CPR access

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