Globe and Mail
Update – February 25, 2008
Alex
Harvey doesn't need to be introduced as the son of a Canadian ski legend anymore
more. He's building a name of his own on the cross-country trails.
Monday
he became the first Canadian to score podium places twice at the world junior
championships, after hammering his way around the 10-kilometre track in Malles,
Val Venosta, Italy.
The
19-year-old son of former World Cup ski trail star and bike racer Pierre Harvey
toured the course in a time of 28 minutes 58.5 seconds in the classic-skiing
discipline, mastering a track of gradual uphill segments and long downhills.
Last
year, the teen from St-Ferréol les Neiges, Que. became the second Canadian ever
to win a medal at the most prestigious event for junior cross-country skiing
when he captured a bronze in the 10-kilometre skate race.
Marie
Josee-Pepin is the only other Canadian to win a world junior cross-country ski
medal when claimed the silver at the 1989 championships.
"This
is such a great day. I knew it would be hard to contend for the podium because
there are so many great classic skiers here, but I also knew what I was capable
of doing so I am so happy to finish second," said Harvey, who prefers
skate-skiing over the classic. "I had fast skis today and I gave it
everything I had until the end. Now I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do
the rest of the week."
The
elder Harvey is arguably the best male cross-country skier the country has ever
produced, winning three World Cup gold medals in the sport while going onto
competing at two Olympic Winter Games in 1984 and 1988. Pierre Harvey also
competed in two Olympic Summer Games in 1976 and
"I
have always been known as the son of Pierre and it is nice now that people are
starting to recognize me by my first name," said Harvey.
"My
father ended his Olympic journey in Canada in 1988 so I think it would be really
special for me to begin mine at 21 years old in Canada as well in 2010. It
would be great to get my first Olympic experience at a young age in front of my
family and friends."
The
younger Harvey's development in the sport has included time on the Haywood
NorAm Series in Canada, while also hitting the start line in selective World
Cup events over the last two seasons as a member of the junior national
program. He has also competed in the last four World Junior Championships.
"This
is an incredible performance," said Dave Wood, head coach, Canadian
Cross-Country Ski Team. "Alex is a big talent and a guy that always
performs when it counts. This is a great day."
Harvey
finished eight seconds off the pace of Hans Christer Holund, of Norway, who set
the winning time at 28:50.3. Tim Tscharnke, of Germany, was third at 29:09.5.
A
young Norwegian also claimed the gold medal in the women's five-kilometre
classic race. Therese Johaug set the time to beat at 14:54.0. Johaug was joined
on the podium by teammate, Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg in second (14:58.5), and
Germany's Lucia Anger who rounded out the women's podium in third (15:05.5).
Seven
other young Canadians hit the start line in Italy on Monday with 97 of the top
young male skiers and 79 of the best junior women. In men's action, Frederic
Touchette, of St-Ferréol les Neiges, Que., finished 17th (30:13.8), while
Calgary's Kevin Sandau was 21st (30:26.3), and Len Valjas, of Thunder Bay,
Ont., was 28th (31:00.9).
Meanwhile
Alysson Marshall, of Salmon Arm, B.C., led the Canadian women in 32nd spot with
a time of 16:04.7. Heidi Widmer, of Banff, Alta., was 49th (16:31.2), while
Calgary's Marlis Kromm was 53rd (16:43.4) and Stephanie Drolet, of Mt.
Tremblant, Que., was 68th (17:20.5).
The
2008 FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships continue Tuesday, when the Under
23 team will look to match the results of the junior teammates.