THE CANADIAN PRESS
CALGARY — Canada continues to poach coaches from other countries in a bid to win more medals at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
The Canadian cross-country ski team announced Thursday the hiring of Arild Monsen of Norway to coach Olympic medallists Chandra Crawford and Sara Renner and the rest of the team heading into 2010.
The Canadian luge team hired head coach Wolfgang Staudinger from Germany a year ago.
Dave Wood, who has served as head coach of the cross-country team for a decade, has moved into the position of team leader and will oversee its operations in travel, training and competition.
Monsen, who competed on the Norwegian national team from 1982-’90, had been coaching developmental team skiers in that country.
The money to hire another coach came from Own The Podium, a $120-million, five-year plan designed to get Canada to the top of the medal standings at its own Winter Games.
Cross Country Canada will receive $1.96 million in funding in 2008-09 from OTP for its able-bodied and para-ski teams.
