September 4, 2003 For Immediate Release

Eight members of Canada's national cross-country development ski team are in Prince George this week to take advantage of various dry-land training opportunities in the city. Around UNBC, the group roller-skied up University Way and ran the Greenway trail that connects the University with the Otway Nordic Centre.

Coached by former Prince George resident and UNBC student Eric de Nys, the group is based at the national cross-country ski training centre in Canmore, Alberta. Hot weather and poor air quality in the region prompted the group to move to Prince George for the week.

"Having grown up here, I know what great training opportunities are available in the winter and the summer," says de Nys. "I think it's great that the city is again looking to establish a Nordic ski training centre. When I was living here and going to UNBC, we had excellent coaching and great athlete support and there's no reason with the Olympics coming to BC that we couldn't do it bigger and better."

A Nordic ski training centre is one component of the proposed Northern Sport Centre that would be built at UNBC. In June, Prince George City Council endorsed the concept and identified the Northern Sport Centre as the city's official Olympic legacy project. Various organizations - local sport groups, the University, College, Initiatives Prince George, the City, and others - have been working to develop the Northern Sport Centre as a centre for athlete training and development, building on Prince George's many geographic and educational attributes. It's expected that a formal proposal will be developed this fall.

The national team members will be in Prince George through this weekend, returning to Canmore on Monday.