CANMORE – The world’s best cross-country skiers are coming to Canmore in February 2024.
On Wednesday (Feb. 15), the Alberta World Cup Society (AWCS) announced the COOP FIS Cross-Country World Cup is stopping in Alberta Feb. 9-13, 2024, with three race days at the Canmore Nordic Centre and one day in Calgary.
“It’s been a while since we were last able to host the world’s best cross country skiers and we know they are also looking forward to coming to Canada and the Canadian Rockies,” said Norbert Meier, events chair at AWCS, in a media release.
“Our volunteers are busy making all the plans necessary for a very successful event and we look forward to thousands of Albertans joining us to cheer on the athletes of the dynamic and ambitious Canadian National Ski Team.”
For the past three years, the Canmore-based AWCS has worked toward securing the top circuit in Alberta, which features a first of its kind “Calgary City Sprint” in Calgary’s Prince’s Island Park, near downtown.
The international event is supported by Tourism Canmore Kananaskis.
“By supporting events like this, we're not only promoting sports tourism, but we're also able to raise the profile of the area and encourage visitors to come and experience astonishing adventures that will nourish their soul,” said Rachel Ludwig, CEO Tourism Canmore Kananaskis, in a media release. “The benefits of sports tourism are countless, from boosting the local economy to improving the standard of living for our community, and we're proud to be part of it.”
Previously, the world cup visited Canmore in March 2016.
Next year's stint in Alberta is the first of two planned stops in North America with the second being in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Feb. 17-18.
Next winter is shaping up to be busy with world cups in Canmore. In March 2024, the season finale of the IBU biathlon world cup comes to town for the first time since 2019.
