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Congratulations, Thank you, Farewell, Welcome and Help

Dear CSM Friends,
                               you did it!   We all had one of the best CSM weekends ever.   It wasn't easy and some did not achieve what they set out to do, but that's what the event is all about - there's always another hill to climb.   For the second year in a row, we were lucky with the weather and were able to ski a great course along the trail from Lachute to Buckingham under blues skies and bright sun.   Great memories of adventure, excitement, challenge and comradeship.  Congratulations to you all.   And thank you to you all for signing up and skiing.   You are the life blood of this event and we want you back again.
 
And thank you again to all the volunteers, including the Canadian Armed Forces, helping at the checkpoints, between the checkpoints, crossing the roads and behind the scenes; and to Denis Marcotte and his team for providing such a great trail.   They had to do a lot of overtime this year to clear away the damage after the December storm before they could even begin to prepare the trail.
 
As you know, Allegiant Travel became a gold sponsor of the CSM. We want to see that relationship prosper so if you decide to fly Allegiant, let us know. Cheap direct flights to Florida and Las Vegas sound like fun.  Welcome and thank you Allegiant!
 
This year we bid farewell to the Man in the Wolf Hat, Gaëtan Pelletier, after 32 years tireless work on the operations side.   We are sad to see him go, but he deserves a rest and a different life style in January and February of each year.   We hope to have the benefit of his wise counsel as we grow the event towards its 50^th birthday in 2016.
 
My own two years as President  also come to an end and I would like to thank everybody: my fellow directors, staff, volunteers, other sponsors and above all - you,  for your support, your patience and your participation.   I shall continue to serve on the Board and rest assured that Lixar will continue to provide the technical back-up that is so essential to a cost-effective operation.
 
As I step back, the current Vice-President of the Board, Paul “Boomer” Throop, is stepping forward into the role of President, on an interim basis.   Please welcome him and continue the same support and engagement with this unique event that you have shown over the last two years.    I, along with the rest of the Board and our growing cadre of CSM Ambassadors, will be working with him to achieve the target that we have set: we want to see at least 2,500 on the trail by 2016.
 
To reach that goal, we are also appealing for your help in the following ways:
 
              (1) register each year for the next 3 years, at least;
 
              (2) get one other person to register - if each of the 1560 skiers in last week's CSM brought along just one other person, we would pass our 2,500 goal comfortably;
 
              (3) become a CSM Ambassador.  these are people who not only have ideas, but they do things, from putting up posters and distributing fliers to giving talks in schools, interviews to the media, or writing articles for the local press; plus whatever else they may dream up to promote the CSM. To become a CSM Ambassador, just send an email to boomerski@csm-mcs.com, giving your contact information, the skills that you can bring, and the time you are prepared to devote to the job. 
       
              (4) become a Volunteer. We need:  volunteers at checkpoints and crossroads; a Director of Operations; a Volunteer Coordinator; and Task Leaders for crossroads security, drivers and vehicles management, transportation, municipal relations.   If you would like to help with any of these, please contact the CSM office: Toll free 1 877 770 6556 or 819 483 0456; or email at ski@csm-mcs.com
 
My very best wishes to you for the year ahead,
 
Bill Syrros
President
CSM

 

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President's Welcome Message:

CSM 2013 is right around the corner and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has signed up to ski, volunteer, sponsor and support the Canadian Ski Marathon. Because of your contribution, energy and enthusiasm, the CSM will reach its 47th consecutive year. I'd particularly like to thank the over 200 landowners who give us the green light to use their land, year after year.

Mother Nature has provided us with an abundance of snow ... and ice which has caused quite a bit of damage on parts of the trail. As a result, the CSM has had to spend a significant amount of money to insure that the trail is as close to the original trail as possible. Many volunteers, landowners and organizations have really stepped up to make this happen. A big thank you goes to them and a big thank you goes to the skiers for adapting to the conditions and the possible trail changes.

2013 is a very special year with Chandra Crawford as our Honorary President. I'd like to personally thank Chandra and the Fast & Female team for making a real difference in the lives of so many youth and young girls in Canada. F&F provides encouragement and empowerment by connecting youth between 9 & 19 with their inspirational and Olympic level heroes. The CSM is truly honoured to welcome Madeleine Williams, 2010 XC Olympic team member to the CSM this year to host a F&F Champ Chat event on Saturday afternoon at the Fairmont Le Château Montebello: 3:30 - 5:30.

I'm honored to announce that Allegiant Air has become a 2013 Canadian Ski Marathon Gold Sponsor. Allegiant Air's mantra is "Travel is our Deal" supported by a company pledge to offer you the very best travel deals. Over one hundred flights depart from locations like Plattsburg & Niagara Falls to choice travel destinations like Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, and Orlando, to name a few. After you finish your CSM journey, perhaps a trip to the sunny south is the perfect reward. Visit the Allegiant website for more information: allegiantair.com.

The CSM forever thanks Canadian Forces and DND for their continued involvement in the marathon. The 33rd signal Regiment (Ottawa) will return for their 11th year (1992 - 2013) with roughly 65 members. We will also have cadets from Lachute and Outaouais helping out at Gold Camp and baggage control. We also have an elite group of military personnel skiing the CSM this year. They have been given permission to stay at Gold Camp where they will be putting on a winter safety seminar. So if you see them on the trail or in camp, please give them a big thank you. They appreciate it.

Lastly, thank you to the CSM Board. This is my last year as President and I want to thank everyone for their support and enthusiasm over the past two years.

The CSM is an incredible event ... "challenges your body, tests your mind and feeds your soul". I truly hope you enjoy your challenge ... and "Let the 2013 Adventure Begin".

Bill Syrros
President, Canadian Ski Marathon 2012 & 2013

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Honourary President's Message:

The CSM is a tremendous event for participants of all ages and abilities to push their limits in a fun and supportive environment.

This is extremely in line with Fast & Female's values of inspiring all girls to follow their passions for sport and continuously challenge themselves to improve as athletes and as human beings.

I'm sure all the girls attending the Fast & Female activity will learn a lot from Madeleine's presence and her lessons on perseverance and determination.

Chandra Crawford
Honourary CSM President

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Trail is ready to go! 160km CSM trail, Lachute - Montebello - Buckingham, all cleared, all groomed, all ready for you. Come and ski!!! CHECK OUT THE 2013 CSM TRAIL DESCRIPTIONS & MAP Registration: Skiers staying at the Gold CdB Dorm, the Papineauville Dorm and Fairmont Le Château Montebello will receive their bibs there on Friday evening. Skier's Guide Parking Map

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BIG SAVINGS ARE JUST A SHORT DRIVE AWAY!
Cross the border, fly from Plattsburgh, NY or Niagara Falls, NY and save big! Whether you're headed for the excitement of Las Vegas, the magic of Orlando or the sunny beaches of Tampa Bay, Allegiant gets you there. Get the best deals when you book your complete vacation package, including air, hotel, rental car and attraction and show tickets.

Visit allegiantair.com for fast and easy savings. Allegiant, travel is our deal!

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Friday Night "Welcome" Reception
You're invited to a Friday Night "Welcome" Reception in the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Room, at Fairmont Le Château Montebello.
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. with:

Sponsored by Lixar IT - Mobile and Big Data Integration Boutique for Innovative Business

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Marathon Girls
Remember to sign up for the Fast and Female event with 2010 Olympian Madeleine Williams
Outaouais Room - 1
Saturday, February 9, 2013 - 3:30 - 5:30 pm
http://fffeb9montebello.eventbrite.com

Fast and Female Champ Chat - Saturday, February 9, 2013
Event led by Madeleine Williams, 2010 Olympian and Law Student at McGill. Inspirational activity for female sports enthusiasts ages 7 - 19

Schedule

• 3:30 pm Check in & Snacks
• 3:45 pm Inspirational Presentation
• 4:10 pm Leadership exercise
• 4:30 pm Dance/Yoga by Victoria Lynes, Your Own Path Yoga and Meditation - www.yourownpathyoga.com
• 5:15 pm Autographs
• 5:30 pm Farewell

FEE: $25 includes gift, snack, magazine and poster
REGISTRATION: Online until February 8 @ www.fastandfemale.com

Marathon Girl Contest
Fast & Female will select 10 lucky girls between the ages of 7 to 19 registered in the CSM to win a free signature Buff. To enter the contest, tell us in 250 words or less what makes YOU a most awesome Fast & Female Marathon Girl. Send your response to: info@fastandfemale.com

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NEWS FLASH!!

160km CSM trail, Lachute - Montebello - Buckingham, all cleared, all groomed, all ready for you. Come and ski!!

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Fast and Female Partners with the Canadian Ski Marathon to Host Inspiring Event and Marathon Girl Contest

Montebello, QC (January 17, 2013) - Fast and Female is inviting female cross country ski enthusiasts ages 7 to 19 to attend an afternoon activity of inspiration on February 9 led by 2010 Olympian Madeleine Williams as part of the Canadian Ski Marathon.

Williams, an accomplished cross country skier and runner as well as a current Law student at McGill university will join the girls for an inspirational presentation followed by a personal development exercise on attitude as well as fun dance and yoga sessions. The event will take place at Château Montebello - one of the largest log-built hotels in the world - from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

"I'm very excited to be leading the Fast and Female event at the Canadian Ski Marathon because this event is one of our country's premiere ski events," said Williams. "This is a great opportunity to reach an audience of racers and recreational skiers alike. Inspiring girls to stay in sport is important to me because sport teaches so many vital life lessons and encourages lifelong health," concluded the retired World Cup cross country racer who still competes in cross country running.

As a two-day event, the CSM features 160 kilometre of skiing divided into 5 sections each day, with an average of 16 km per section. Skiers of all ages and abilities are welcome to participate and can do so safely. There are checkpoints at the end of each section providing food, first, aid an other services, as well as shuttle buses that run between accommodation and checkpoints throughout each day. The CSM alternates its direction each year, from East to West one year and then West to East the next – between Gatineau and Lachute.

Unlike most ski events, there are no winners or losers in the Canadian Ski Marathon. Each skier can select his/her own level of challenge and try to achieve it. One can ski as little as 12 km or up to the maximum of 160 km over the weekend.

"Chandra Crawford, Madeleine Williams and the Fast and Female team have brought an inspiring energy to the 2013 Canadian Ski Marathon," said Bill Syrros, CSM President "We recognize and respect the level of empowerment and encouragement they're offering to CSM youth; to ski and to be the best that they can be."

Fast and Female is a non-profit organization launched in seven years ago by Chandra Crawford – 2006 Olympic gold medalist and honorary president for this year's edition of the Canadian Ski Marathon. The organization's mission is to support, encourage and motivate girls to stay in sports. It is believed that girls are six times more likely to drop out of sports than boys by the time they reach 14 years old.

"I'm super pumped that we are able to bring the Fast and Female message of joy for sport to the girls taking part in the Canadian Ski Marathon," said Crawford who is in Europe for the remainder of the World Cup season. "The CSM is a tremendous event for participants of all ages and abilities to push their limits in a fun and supportive environment. This is extremely in line with Fast and Female's values of inspiring all girls to follow their passions for sport and continuously challenge themselves to improve as athletes and as human beings. I'm sure all the girls attending the Fast and Female activity will learn a lot from Madeleine's presence and her lessons on perseverance and determination."

The February 9 Fast and Female activity in Montebello is open to female youth Canadian Ski Marathon participants as well as non participants from the area.

The cost for the events is $25 for youth and includes a Fast & Female t-shirt, a healthy snack, a magazine subscription (Pedal or SkiTrax) and an autographed poster. Online registration is open until February 8 at lunch time at http://fffeb9montebello.eventbrite.com or at www.fastandfemale.com.

As a complement to the event, Fast and Female and the Canadian Ski Marathon are also partnering to run a Marathon Girl Contest. As part of the contest, girls ages 7 to 19 registered in the Canadian Ski Marathon are invited to submit a short paragraph on what makes them exemplary Fast and Female Marathon Girls. Ten young women will be selected as part of this contest and will be rewarded with a free Fast and Female Buff. Entries in the contest can be sent to info@fastandfemale.com.

For more information about the Canadian Ski Marathon and to register, visit: http://www.csm-mcs.com/index2.html

CONTACTS:
Shelley Fraser
Canadian Ski Marathon
sfraser@lixar.com

Marie-Hélène Thibeault
Fast and Female
mthibeault@fastandfemale.com