Bio

Stefan’s cross-country skiing career began when he was 10 years old with the Canmore Nordic Jackrabbits Ski Team. This was the beginning of a long road that would develop the foundation of his training and racing, while teaching him that hard work equals a fast athlete (most of the time). Stefan continued his training and racing with the direction of his coach (his father), through his teen years. His big break came when he made it onto the Canadian World Junior Cross-Country Ski Team. In the two years following, he also made it to the World Juniors with one of his best friends and a great rival George Grey. Being handed a silver medal by one of his hero’s Gunda Svan at the Pre-World Cup Championships at Silver Star Mountain, in Vernon, B.C. is one of the great memories of his young skiing career.

Stefan began to think about what he would do after skiing, so he took a part-time job in Banff as an apprentice Chef.  His first year skiing as a senior was very demanding, working and racing and trying to recover all at the same time (not an easy task). That season culminated with a second-place finish at the Canadian Championships in the 10-kilometre classic event; this would be his last race for three years as he decided to make the transition, and live in the working world full-time to become a Chef.

After having traveled halfway across the world with an amazing woman (now his wife Erin), somewhere between the full-time work and no-time play, Stefan rediscovered his love for the training and racing again. He started training once more in Edmonton, and found a great resource and a great friend, Jack Cook, to help him start it all off. After a constructive first year back in the cross-country scene, Stefan finds himself constantly pushing, advancing and striving to improve his skiing. He is thankful to have the support of X-C.com Racing Team to pursue his life’s dream of making it to the top of the podium in cross-country skiing.  Today, he is a key member of the 2008 national ski team, and is poised to climb to the top of the World Cup level.