Renner in one of her final races at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Photo: Linnaea Kershaw
Sara Renner is getting a crash course in normal living. Since announcing her retirement from skiing after her final race—the 30 k race at the Olympics, she’s jumped into the “real life of motherhood and work” with both feet.
“It’s really eye-opening the amount of stuff you do in a day when you don’t ski [train],” she said. “It’s so busy!”
Renner is now balancing motherhood with a new position—she and her husband, Thomas Grandi, have opened The Paintbox, a boutique lodge in downtown Canmore. It has five suites and sleeps 13 to 20 people. “We hire all cross country skiers or former cross country skiers, so it feels more like a family.”
In addition to the excitement of a new business, the Renner-Grandi clan is looking forward to another new arrival in January—Renner is pregnant with their second child and is due in January. They already have a daughter, Aria. “I heard the heartbeat yesterday [June 29], which made it real and exciting for me.”
Despite the business of transitioning from skiing to real life, Renner admits she was ready for the switch. “It’s so great to leave something with so many good memories. I’m sure it’ll be harder in November when all the ski stuff starts up, but I’m really happy.”
The family took a month-long road trip down to Utah to canoe the Green River and are looking forward to a summer of exploring the Canadian Rockies–rather than previous summers filled with training camps.
CANMORE, Alta.—Olympic and World Cup medallists, Sara Renner and Thomas Grandi, are encouraging Canadians young and old to join them in a one-day journey to stem the climate crisis, October 24, 2009 in Canmore, Alta., as part of International Day of Climate Action.
With people around the world taking action in their respective communities, the Olympic couple are hoping to rally a group of 350 people concerned about the climate to participate in a symbolic expedition from the Civic Centre in Canmore, Alta. to the Quarry Lake. The “Canmore Climate Crusaders” are being encouraged to plan their departures from the Civic Centre according to their own walking, hiking, running, roller skiing or biking ability in order to arrive at the Quarry by 12 noon where they will all join together to make the numbers 350 for a group photo.
All photos of the day can be uploaded to 350.org, and will be displayed in New York City on the big screen in Times Square.
Participants are being encouraged to make and bring their own banners, paint their faces, wear Halloween costumes, decorate bikes or dogs, or just come as is. The person with the best decorated 350 banner will win a day of cross-country skiing or alpine skiing with Thomas and Sara.
Renner and Grandi began leading Canmore’s 350 movement in support of climate change last year with a 20-kilometre recreational bike ride with the community in an effort to get global action on what some have deemed to be the worst crisis humans have ever faced.
The number 350 is the most important number in the survival of the planet – 350 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide (CO2) is the safe line for the global climate. With the world mark currently at approximately 387 ppm, Renner and Grandi are encouraging Canadians to join them in inspiring political leaders to act and remember this critically important number.
Being Olympic winter athletes, Renner and Grandi have a strong connection with the environment, their impact and the effects of climate change. The Alberta-based couple are also encouraging Canadians who are not available to participate in the Canmore experience to start their own 350 action events in their community.
For more information on 350, please visit www.350.org on the Internet. For updates and information on the Canmore event go to http://350canmoreclimatecrusaders.blogspot.com.
WHO:
– Sara Renner, Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team
– Canadians of all ages
WHEN:
– Saturday, October 24, 2009
– 9 a.m. Sara Renner Interviews – Canmore Civic Centre
– 10:15 Sara Renner Public Speech
– 10:30 Group journey from Civic Centre begins
– 12 noon Group Photo forming numbers 350 at The Quarry
WHERE:
– Canmore Civic Centre
– Quarry Lake – 12 noon Arrival and Group Photo
SPONSORS:
– Town of Canmore
– Canmore Community Cruisers
– The Paintbox Lodge
– Devonian Properties
– Gord Jewett Enterprise
