The Heartbeat

This week's edition of The Heartbeat includes events in Québec City (cross-country skiing), Nakiska, AB (ski-cross) and Canmore (cross-country skiing).

Sports being televised or streamed include cross-country skiing, bobsleigh, skeleton, alpine skiing, figure skating, swimming and snowboarding.

Events to meet athletes are being held in Halifax, Ancaster and Québec.

If you are participating in or know of an event that could be featured in The Heartbeat, please contact me: suzanne[at]sportcafe[dot]ca or via Twitter @olympichearts.

Sprint Québec Coupe du Monde de Ski de Fond
(Cross-Country Skiing World Cup)
7-9 décembre, 2012
Québec, QC
Plus d'infos
More info
Competitors include: Alex Harvey, Devon Kershaw, Len Valjas, Chandra Crawford, Perrianne Jones and Dasha Gaiazova Click here for full list of Canadian competitors.

Cross-Country Skiing World Cup
December 13-16, 2012
Canmore, Alberta
More info
Competitors include: Alex Harvey, Devon Kershaw, Len Valjas, Ivan Babikov, Chandra Crawford, Perrianne Jones and Dasha Gaiazova Click here for full list of Canadian competitors.

Ski Cross 
FIS Ski Cross World Cup - Nakiska Snowdown
December 8, 2012
The first event of the ski cross World Cup season will consist of 190 of the best skiers from 25 nations.

Among the competitors: Marielle Thompson, Kelsey Serwa, Danielle Sundquist, Dave Duncan, Brady Leman and Tristan Tafel.

The Canadian team unveiled a "blue jean inspired Descente race suit" in memory of Nik Zoricic this week. (Photo from Alpine Canada website)

You can read more about the unveiling here.
More info

Olympic Sports On Television/Internet

World Cup Cross-Country Skiing
CBC Bold (and cbcsports.ca)
Friday December 7 1:55pm Team Sprint from Quebec
Saturday December 8 1:05pm Men's and Women's Sprint Finals from Quebec

CBC
Saturday December 8 1:00pm
Men's and Women's Team Sprint Finals (repeat Monday 1:00am)
Saturday December 8 3:00pm
Men's and Women's Sprint Finals

CBC Bold (and cbcsports.ca)
Thursday December 13 12:50pm Women's 10km from Canmore
Thursday December 13 2:20pm Men's 15km from Canmore
Saturday December 15 2:20pm Men's and Women's Sprint Finals - Canmore
Sunday December 16 12:50pm Women's 15km Skiathlon - Canmore
Sunday December 16 2:20pm Men's 30km Skiathlon - Canmore

Ski-Cross World Cup from Nakiska
Saturday December 8 1:00pm on cbcsports.ca
Sunday December 9 1:00pm on cbcsports.ca S
unday December 9 2:00pm on CBC
Monday December 10 1:00am on CBC

Figure Skating Grand Prix Finals
Saturday December 8 4pm on CBC
Women Free and Pairs Free Programs
Saturday December 8 8pm on CBC
Men Free and Dance Free Programs

Alpine Skiing
Snowtime Highlighting latest news from World Cup skiing circuit every week
Friday 1:30pm; replay Saturday 12:00am; replay Sunday 3:30pm CBC Bold

According to Brian Stemmle:  "Too much snow in Val d'Isere caused a schedule change Sat Dec 8 men's SL @cbcsports Sun Dec 9 GS on @Sportsnet. Women's SG on @Sportsnet Sat"

It may be better to watch live rather than trusting your PVR.

Following is the original schedule to give an idea of timing.
Men's Giant Slalom Val d'Isere
Saturday 2:00pm CBC

Men's Slalom Val d'Isere
First Run live Saturday December 8 3:55am cbcsports.ca
Second Run live Sat Dec 8 6:55am on cbcsports.ca
Saturday on Sportsnet (check local listings)

Women's Super-G St. Moritz
Saturday 5:00pm Sportsnet ONE (repeat midnight on Sportsnet and Sunday)

Follow live results here.

Bobsleigh/Skeleton
Women's and men's skeleton
Friday December 7 Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet (check local listings)
Women and Men Bobsleigh
Saturday December 8 Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet (check local listings)

Swimming Short Course World Championships
Instanbul, Turkey
Representing Canada: Martha McCabe, Tera Van Beilen, Katerine Savard, Brittany MacLean, Noemie Thomas, Chantal van Landegham and Heather MacLean. Zach Chetrat, Luke Peddie, Andrew Poznikoff, Jake Tapp, Warren Barnes, Coleman Allen and Tommy Gossland.

More info
Live streaming

FIS Snowboard Magazine
Monday 8:30pm EST Sportsnet ONE repeated Thursday 8pm EST Sportsnet ONE

Meet/Support Canada's Athletes

Déjeuner des Championnes Rapides et Radieuses
Marie-Eve Croteau (paralympique - cyclisme), Andréanne Pichette (vélo de montagne), Elise Marcotte (nage synchronisée), Audrey Lacroix (nage), Kristina Valjas (volleyball de plage)

Matinée inspirante pour les filles sportives de 9 à 19 ans
9 décembre, 2012
Québec, QC
Plus d'infos

Olympic Bronze Women's Soccer
Christine Sinclair, Karina Leblanc, Rhian Wilkinson and Diana Matheson
Dec 7, 8, 9, 2012
Halifax, Nova Scotia
More info

Melissa Tancredi
December 22, 2012 - hour long playing session for boys and girls age 9-14
December 23, 2012 - speech and autograph/photo session
Ancaster, Ontario
More Info