Jasper has scored an elite cross country skiing athlete in Mathieu Bilodeau, who was recently transferred to the Jasper Park Lodge from the Fairmont Tremblant in Mont-Tremblant, Que. 

Bilodeau was happy to accept the transfer to be able to train in the mountains of Jasper, and nearby Canmore, where the national training centre is located. 

“I decided to move here for the altitude and mountains,” Bilodeau said. “It’s a big plus to have this wonderful playground for training.”

Moving to Jasper slowed down training for the athlete, and a lack of snow and cold temperatures made getting out for a ski difficult. But things got back on track, and Bilodeau managed to race in four different events in the past two months. 

He skied to a top 25 position in Mont-St.-Anne, and placed eighth at a loppet in Camrose, Alta., then followed that up with a sixth place finish at the Alberta Cup, and finally a 28th place at the Western Nationals among a pro-packed crowd of athletes. 

The funny thing about all Bilodeau’s accomplishments in skiing, is that this happens to be his very first year as a cross country ski athlete. 

“Cross country skiing has always been a passion for me. Now, I have decided to focus all my energy on this sport,” Bilodeau said. 

The former professional triathlete made the switch to cross country ski racing this season, and calls it his “training year.” He has been working towards the goal for the past six months. 

“I have the cardio and the background as an elite athlete,” Bilodeau explains. “I did my third race ever last weekend (Feb. 5 and 6). I can already compete against guys that have been skiing for many years. I am learning really fast – it’s the reason I now have big expectations in this sport.”

Before making the jump to the winter sport, Bilodeau says his biggest athletic  accomplishments have been in triathlon. He was a member of the Triathlon World Cup team in Corner Brook, N.L., and finished sixth in the USA National Triathlon Championships. He was also selected to run the 10-kilometre event at the World Trials Championships of track and field in Toronto two years ago. 

“This year, I can call an experience year,” he said. “I am trying to figure out the strategic part of cross country skiing. Cross country is so much different from the triathlon.”

Once he has the race technique down, Bilodeau hopes to turn his attention towards some lofty goals, but if his six-month track record is any indication, he could get there. 

“My hope so far is to be part of the national development team for the moment,” he said. “My main goals are the 2014 Olympic Trials and the 2018 Olympic Trials. Like many other athletes, Olympics and World Championships are always on my mind.”

Bilodeau hopes to make some connections in Jasper as he builds his ski racing resumé. He is currently training with the Foothills ski team out of Calgary under a former world level cross country skier. 

“It’s really what I need at this point,” he said. 

But he also wants to build a home team – one to support his athletic goals when he’s not training in Canmore. 

“I need to find a nutritionist and a sport physiologist around here. I want to build up a team that will support me in Jasper,” Bilodeau said.

The athlete is also working on discovering good trails around town to train on. 

“I am still trying to figure out where the best place is to train, but during the weekend, I go to Pyramid Lake. It’s a nice place, pretty hilly and has good elevation. During the week, I go to Whistlers Campground when I have double poling workouts. Otherwise I go to (Centennial) field to work on my technique.”

Bilodeau would love to have a person to ski with around Jasper, especially on his trips to Pyramid Lake. 

“I would like to have a training partner because I am scared to go by myself on Pyramid Lake when it’s dark,” he said. 

Bilodeau plans to spend the summer training at the cross country ski centre in Canmore, but has a busy schedule of races throughout this season to attend. Next up for the skier is the Alberta Cup in Canmore in March, followed by a few National Championship events there as well. Towards the end of March he will participate in the 50-kilometre classic at the U.S. National Championships, which he says is his biggest goal for the season. After May, Bilodeau will participate in a number of training camps to complete the summer. 

Stay tuned to the Fitzhugh for more on Bilodeau’s accomplishments this season.