Chelsea FC get me a sponsor campaign

It helps to be a globally recognized brand, although the principles of this approach apply whether you are big or small.  Take note sports marketers!
Chelsea FC Get me a Sponsor video

B2B vs B2C company sponsorship

B2B companies can make sponsorship worthwhile by ensuring alignment with business goals and taking a creative, partnership based approach.
A few examples quoted in this article.
Article from B2B Marketing

Increasing contribution of live sport to TV advertising revenue

Now contributing 37% of ad revenue for the US market as TV viewing habits continue to shift.  This is reflected in escalating cost of TV rights for hockey in Canada, football in the UK, cross country skiing in Norway (perhaps?!).

Advertising Age Article

Most successful ever online kit launch for Adidas

Manchester United (who else?).  Again demonstrates the phenomenal marketing power of a top global sports brand.  See article at the link below.
Drum article

Breakdown of top earning athletes by sport

Top 5 individuals aside, over 60% of the top 100 earners are from US centric sports.  Significant that even a truly global sport like "Soccer" only has 15 of the top 100 earners.

Source: Forbes via Globe & Mail.

Last (lift) ski of the season - May 18

High up at Sunshine, Alberta.  A Cross country trail in the meadow beyond for early/late season training.  Should have brought my skinny skis!  Beautiful spring day in the mountains.

One of Those Nordic Days

Don't try this at home!  Impressed by the skill demonstrated on skinny skis in this video.

One of Those Nordic Days

Northug again in the 50km Classic

Another gold for Northug (4 at these World Championships -19 overall for Norway including 11 gold).  Germany with 5 golds and Sweden with 2 golds next in the medals table.  The Norwegian women almost unbeatable right now.  A creditable 5th for Alex Harvey in the 50km. Winning time for Northug in the 50km was 2:26:02.
Article - World Championships 50km Classic

Lake Louise Loppet March 1, 2015

A beautiful day for the 43rd running of one of the older Canadian Loppets.  A couple of very fast icy downhills on the first 10 km loop.  Considering the recent weather, the course was in decent shape.  My lack of skiing this year was fully exposed in the last 5km or so.  A gentle 1hr and 55mins to complete the delightful 20km course.

Peter Loughheed Park, Kananaskis - Blueberry Hill

A great 30km ski last Friday to warm up for the Lake Louise Loppet on Sunday.  Conditions quite good at the higher part of the trail system, despite the general lack of snow and warm weather of the past few weeks in Southern Alberta.  This has to be is one of my favourite trails.  Part of the reward is the fantastic view at the top of Blueberry Hill.

Second World Championship medal for Alex Harvey

While Norway are still dominating with 11 medals so far, it has been an outstanding competition for Canada's Alex Harvey.  He followed up his sprint silver performance with a bronze in the Skiathlon.  He is the first Canadian ever to win 2 medals at a World Championship.
Faster Skier article - World Championships Skiathlon

World Championsips (Falun) - Men's classic sprint final

3 minutes of lung popping skiing.  Video of final (from Norwegian TV - where else?) at the link below.  Exciting stuff, Northug holding off Harvey at the end.  Race strategy mixed with all out effort to execute.
Men's Classic sprint final Falun
Inches between gold and silver.

Some Loppet comedy

What can happen on downhill sections of mass Loppets.  This example from the recent Tartu Maraton in Estonia, one of the World Loppet series events.
Loppet Comedy Video

First ski of the season!?

Yes it is the 7th of February.  The season can be very short in southern Ontario if there is no skiing between Christmas and New Year.  Happy to be out there.  Lots of the fluffy white stuff now, with more forecast.  I fear a little late to be in any decent shape for the double Loppet weekend in Alberta at the end of the month.  So it goes.  Just need enough legs to make it fun rather than painful.

More on low intensity training

This article (link below) is about building a strong aerobic base through low intensity training before going to higher intensity.  That said, some valid points in the post article comments about available time for building this magical aerobic base.  How may of us city dwellers have the luxury of more than 10 hours per week of on snow training?
More discussion on low intensity training - Faster Skier article

Norway, Canada and Sweden podium in 15km Classic pursuit

Nice to see a Canadian (Alex Harvey) split the Scandinavians with a silver this weekend.  Sounds like the race was decided by an exciting sprint finish.  Who looks happiest on this podium?
Tour-de-ski 15km Classic pursuit Jan 4

Charlotte Kalla is Sweden's sports personality of the year...

...beating out 5 time winner Zlatan Ibrahimovic (who else?).  A series of outstanding performances in an Olympic year secured the votes needed to win the award.  The enduring (growing?) popularity of the Winter Olympics is a definite factor in this.  Story here: Kalla award