Len VALJAS

CAREER

At 23 years of age, Len has emerged as another one of Canada’s great young cross-country skiers after winning a silver and two bronze medals on the World Cup in 2012. The youngest member of the Canadian World Cup Team, Len is a two-time Canadian National Sprint Champion. Len was accepted to the National Team Development Centre in Thunder Bay, Ont. (2007-08) and he has trained at the Pierre Harvey National Team Development Centre (CNEPH) in Mont Ste. Anne, Que. The sprint specialist also enjoyed a solid 2010-11 season where he finished ninth at a World Cup Sprint, and 15th at the World Championships in Oslo, Norway. With his most successful season behind him, and the fast approaching Sochi Olympics on the horizon, Len enters his second year on the Canadian World Cup Team with commitment and purpose to reach his potential as an elite skier.

PERSONAL

Len’s Nordic heritage (Estonian/Swedish) introduced him to cross-country skiing as his parent’s would haul him around ski trails in a backpack as an infant. After getting involved in youth programs at his home club, his progression through the Jackrabbit and Development Team programs at Hardwood helped to prepare him for his journey as a cross-country skier. Len is very grateful to his parents who have supported him since the beginning, his home club, Hardwood, for believing in him, and his coaches and teammates who have helped motivate him to be the best athlete he can be.
Len participated in many sports as a youngster and by the time he was 17, he excelled in two sports in particular: mountain biking and cross-country skiing. That year (2006) Len had the distinction of being named to the provincial teams in both sports. Soon after, Len realized that a decision had to be made, as to which sport he would focus on. He chose cross-country skiing and has never wavered in pursuit of achieving his Olympic dream.

QUICK LINKS

Website: http://lvaljas.blogspot.com/