Of the ten 1998 Nagano Olympians, six are still with the team going for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. The Subaru Continental Cup is North America's premier race series which attracts top Canadian and American skiers. Winners of the series often continue on to World Cup racing. Two new race formats have been introduced to the Continental and World Cup series.
Sprint races are short, fast stadium races, and are popular with spectators.
The traditional two day pursuit event has been changed this season to a one day event made up of two shorter races, and now provides only one medal to the overall winner. Famous Arctic Explorer Richard Weber, was a long time National Team member, representing Canada at the 1982 World Championships as well as at many other international events. Canada's most succesful international competitor was Pierre Harvey winner of 3 World Cups between 1988 and 1989 and the prestigious Norwegian Birkebeiner Worldloppet event in 1989. An excellent role model for this lifetime sport he still skied at the age of 107. Since the late 80's over 125,000 Canadian kids have been introduced to the sport through the largest youth skiing program of all disciplines, in N America.