THUNDER BAY – SPORTS – NDC Thunder Bay athletes and coaches have spent the past three weeks in Canmore, Alberta training with the other top Nordic athletes in the country including Canada’s top World Cup Team.  The fourteen Thunder Bay athletes were joined by The Alberta World Cup Academy (AWCA), Centre Nationale d’Entrainement Pierre Harvey (CNEPH) and the National Ski Team for the largest training camp of the year.  National Ski Team head coach Justin Wadsworth organized this “Alignment Camp” to bring together the top skiers in the country to train, learn and work together and bring the level of Cross Country Skiing up across the country.   While providing new and challenging training partners this camp also allows the up and coming junior athletes to train alongside, and learn from, experienced Olympians and World Cup medalists like Alex Harvey.

Training in Canmore Preps Thunder Bay Skiers

NDC Thunder Bay Head Coach Timo Puiras appreciates the camp saying “Although the Centre in Thunder Bay has grown to become the biggest in Canada it is still pertinent that our athletes have an opportunity to compare themselves to the other top skiers in Canada during the summer training months. The training camp here in Canmore is that great opportunity.”

NDC Thunder Bay athletes are taking full advantages of all Canmore has to offer as a training venue.   Sitting 1480m above sea level, significantly higher than here in Thunder Bay, athletes have been training at altitude for all workouts.  Training sessions include long runs along mountain passes, sprint workouts, days in the gym as well as taking advantage of the great paved loop dedicated to rollerskiing.

Canmore is home to the Bill Warren Training Centre, a top winter sport training facility in Canada.  While boasting a full gym set-up for athletes to use, it also provides an ideal setting for physiological testing.  Most of the NDC Thunder Bay athletes had the chance to complete testing on the Centres roller-ski treadmill.

A rollerski treadmill functions similar to a running treadmill except the track surface is much larger, to allow for full stride movement, and athletes are harnessed in to avoid any potential injuries. Testing on this specific treadmill provides the most accurate and sport specific data possible.

The team returns home next week to participate in the local Big Thunder Ski Club training camp which will also host some of Ontario’s best up-and-coming athletes.

You can follow the team’s progress on Twitter @NDCTBay or Facebook at www.facebook.com/NDCThunderBay