Yukon skier Knute Johnsgaard named to Canadian senior team

ForKnuteJohnsgaard, it's the achievement of a lifelong dream, second only to qualifying for the Olympics.

The Yukon cross-country skier was named Wednesday to the Canadian national seniorteam.

"It was a phone call I'd been hoping for for a long time," Johnsgaard said. "For the past few years I'd kind of been on the edge [of making the team] and luckily this year it swayed the right way."

Johnsgaardsaid his results in competition this year are what got him a spot on the team. Hefinished 14that the Under-23World Ski Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, earlier this year.

The opportunity is not without sacrifice. Johnsgaard had tomoveto Canmore, Alta., where he'll train at the Alberta World Cup Academy. The facility is home to high-level training equipment and coaching for Canada's elite cross-country skiers.

'Feels like home'

"It was hard to move away from home, but now I'm training inCanmorewith the national team and it's going great so far," he said. "I've been toCanmorenumerous times racing and training. It feels like home."

Johnsgaardsaid making the national team will open up opportunities to compete in more World Cup races. "I'm really excited to see what next year has in store for me," he said.

"I feel like I can have some good results on the international stage."

Whitehorse skiersDahria Beatty andKendra Murray are also training at the academy this year. Beatty andEmily Nishikawa, also of Whitehorse, are also among the 12members of the national senior team.