IPC CANMORE WORLD CUP 2013
Dec 9 – Dec 17, 2013 in Canmore. Over 100 of the world’s best cross country skiers and biathletes will compete in the first ever Para-Nordic World Cup to be held at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
Come cheer on the athletes as they compete for positions on their respective nations’ Paralympic team. Racing will take place on December 9, 10, 12, 14, 15 and 17.
Preliminary event schedule for spectators is here. No ticket or registration required for spectators. Online registration for volunteers is here. Preliminary information for volunteers is here.
The Alberta World Cup Society (AWCS), Cross Country Canada (CCC) in cooperation with Canmore Business and Tourism, is hosting an International Paralympic Committee (IPC) sanctioned Nordic skiing (Cross-country and Biathlon) World Cup event at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
World Cups Return To Canmore
For the second year in a row Canmore, Alberta will host the world’s best nordic skiers with six International Paralympic Committee (IPC) world cups. Racing begins Monday December 9th and continues to December 17th. The entire series will be set at the renowned Canmore Nordic Centre.
These world cups are of huge importance to Canada’s Para-Nordic Team. They provides the athletes with an opportunity to compete on home turf but more importantly, the entire series serves as a qualifying event for the Paralympics in Sochi, March 7 to 16, 2014.
The Russians are coming. Close to 120 athletes are expected including 40 from Russia alone. Canada and the United States will be out in force with about 20 athletes per nation. Up to 16 nations will be represented. Monday, December 9th, Tuesday December 10th and Thursday December 12th are the Cross Country world cups. Beginning Saturday, December 14th and then on the 15th and the 17th, many of the same athletes will be competing in the biathlon world cups.
Para-Nordic skiing is a sport for participants with physical impairment. Most of the elite athletes compete in both cross-country and biathlon races. The first week will be cross-country events from December 6 to 12 and the second week we will see biathlon races from December 13 to 18. Elite athletes will compete to qualify for the Paralympics or are in preparations for the Paralympics in Sochi 2014.
Para-Nordic athletes are classified in three categories – sitting, standing and athletes with visual challenges. Viisit the Cross Country Canada Para-Nordic page for more information.