Cross Country Canada

Home > National Ski Team > Athlete Information > Len Valjas

Len Valjas

Vitals

Date of Birth: November 20, 1988
Place of Birth: Toronto, Ontario
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Club: Team Hardwood
Coach: Ivan Babikov
Wax Technician: Joel Jaques
Years on Senior Team: 11
Career Highlights

Website: www.lennyvaljas.com
Personal Sponsors:

Equipment:
Skis: Fischer
Poles: One Way
Boots/Bindings: Fischer

Photo Gallery

Background

National Ski Team Background:
Len emerged as another one of Canada’s great cross-country skiers after posting back-to-back medal-winning seasons in 2012 and 2013. Len’s breakthrough season came in 2012 when he won a silver and two bronze medals on the World Cup. He was back on the World Cup podium in 2017 – capturing his first World Cup victory with Alex Harvey in the team sprint in Toblach, Italy – days before making history with Canada’s 4x7.5 kilometre relay squad who captured the first bronze medal ever.

A three-time Canadian National Sprint Champion, Len was accepted to the National Team Development Centre in Thunder Bay, Ont. (2007-08), and trained at the Pierre Harvey National Team Development Centre (CNEPH) in Mont Ste. Anne, Que. before moving to the Alberta World Cup Academy in Camore four years ago. The sprint specialist also finished 15th at the World Championships in Oslo, Norway in 2011, and was sixth with Alex Harvey in the team sprint in 2017. Len is a two-time Olympian who posted three top-10 finishes at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, including a thrilling seventh-place finish in the classic-sprint race in PyeongChang.

Introduction to Cross-Country Skiing:
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.

Personal:
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. When Len is not skiing he loves to spend as much time in the water as he can. Two of Len’s favourite things to do are windsurfing and surfing. After every season Len spends a month and a half in Maui playing in the water and loving life. His sister Kristina represented Canada in beach volleyball at the 2016 Olympic Summer Games.

Notable Results

Career Highlights:
2018 – Olympic Winter Games, PyeongChang, KOR: 7 (Sprint C)
2018 – Olympic Winter Games, PyeongChang, KOR: 8 (Team Sprint F)
2018 – Olympic Winter Games, PyeongChang, KOR: 9 (4x10km M)
2017 – World Championships, Lahti, FIN: 6 (Team Sprint C)
2017 – World Cup, Pyeongchang, KOR: 4 (Sprint C)
2017 – World Cup, Falun, SWE: 10 (Sprint F)
2017 – World Cup, Ulricehamn, SWE: 3 (4x7.5km Relay)
2017 – World Cup, Toblach, ITA: 1 (Team Sprint F)
2016 – Ski Tour Canada, Canmore, CAN: 11 (Sprint C)
2016 – Tour de Ski, Oberstdorf, GER: 10 (Sprint C
2016 – World Cup, Nove Mesto, CZE: 9 (4x7.5km Relay)
2015 – World Cup, Oteppa, EST: 8 (Team Sprint F)
2013 – Tour de Ski, Val di Fiemme, ITA: 2 (15 km C Mst)
2013 – Tour de Ski, Val Muestair, SUI: 3 (Sprint F)
2013 – World Cup, Davos, SUI: 6 (Sprint C)
2013 – World Cup, Lahti, FIN: 8 (Sprint F)
2013 – World Cup, Canmore, CAN: 7 (Sprint F)
2013 – World Cup, Quebec City, CAN: 10 (Sprint C)
2013 – World Cup, Gaellivare, SWE: 5 (4x7.5km Relay)
2013 – Haywood Ski Nationals, Whistler, B.C.: 1 (Sprint)
2012 – World Cup Finals, Falun, SWE: 3 (15km C Mst)
2012 – World Cup Finals, Stockholm, SWE: 3 (Sprint C)
2012 – World Cup, Drammen, NOR: 2 (Sprint C)
2011 – World Cup, Duesseldorf, GER: 5 (Team Sprint F)
2011 – World Cup, Kuusamo, FIN: 5 (Sprint C)
2011 – World Cup Drammen, Norway: 9 (Sprint)
2011 – World Championships, Oslo, Norway: 15 (Sprint)
2011 – Haywood Ski Nationals, Canmore, Alta.: 1 (Sprint)
2010 – Haywood Ski Nationals: 1 (Sprint)
2010 – World Cup, Davos, Switzerland: 17 (Sprint)

Full Results

Olympic Results:
2018 – Olympic Winter Games, PyeongChang, KOR: 7 (Sprint C)
2018 – Olympic Winter Games, PyeongChang, KOR: 8 (Team Sprint F)
2018 – Olympic Winter Games, PyeongChang, KOR: 9 (4x10km M)
2014 – Olympic Winter Games, Sochi, RUS: 12 (4x10km Relay)
2014 – Olympic Winter Games, Sochi, RUS: 36 (Sprint F)

World Championship Results:
2017 – World Championships, Lahti, FIN: 6 (Team Sprint C), 48 (Sprint F)
2015 – World Championships, Falun, SWE: 10 (4x10km Relay)
2015 – World Championships, Falun, SWE: 13 (Team Sprint F)
2015 – World Championships, Falun, SWE: 14 (Sprint C)
2013 – World Championships, Val di Fiemme, ITA: 12 (4x10km Relay)
2013 – World Championships, Val di Fiemme, ITA: 40 (Sprint C)
2011 – World Championships, Oslo, NOR: 12 (4x10km relay)
2011 – World Championships, Oslo, NOR: 48 (15km classic)
2011 – World Championships, Oslo, NOR: 15 (sprint)
2011 – Under-23 World Championships, Otepaa, EST: 7 (sprint)

Tour de Ski/Ski Tour Canada Results:
2017 – Tour de Ski, Oberstdorf, GER: 37 (Skiathlon)
2017 – Tour de Ski, Val Mustair, SUI: 38 (10km C Mst)
2016 – Tour de Ski, Val Mustair, SUI: 16 (Sprint F)
2016 – Ski Tour Canada, Gatineau, CAN: 37 (Sprint F)
2016 – Ski Tour Canada, Montreal, CAN: 63 (17.5km C Mst)
2016 – Ski Tour Canada, Quebec City, CAN: 38 (Sprint F)
2016 – Ski Tour Canada, Quebec City, CAN: 63 (15km F Pursuit)
2016 – Ski Tour Canada, Canmore, CAN: 11 (Sprint C)
2016 – Ski Tour Canada, Canmore, CAN: 46 (15km Skiathlon)
2016 – Ski Tour Canada, Canmore, CAN: 49 (15km F)
2016 – Tour de Ski, Lenzerheide, SUI: 31 (Sprint F)
2016 – Tour de Ski, Lenzerheide, SUI: 65 (30km C Mst)
2016 – Tour de Ski, Lenzerheide, SUI: 68 (10km F Pursuit)
2016 – Tour de Ski, Oberstdorf, GER: 10 (Sprint C)
2015 – Tour de Ski, Oberstdorf, GER: 51 (4km F Prologue)
2015 – Tour de Ski, Oberstdorf, GER: 83 (15km C Pursuit)
2015 – Tour de Ski, Val Mustair, SUI: 28 (Sprint F)
2013 – Tour de Ski, Val di Fiemme, ITA: 2 (15 km C Mst)
2013 – Tour de Ski, Val Mustair, SUI: 3 (Sprint F)
2013 – Tour de Ski, Val di Fiemme, ITA: 23 (9km Pursuit)
2013 – Tour de Ski, Toblach, ITA: 11 (5km C)
2013 – Tour de Ski, Toblach, ITA: 23 (35km C Pursuit)
2013 – Tour de Ski, Oberhof, GER: 33 (15km C Pursuit)
2013 – Tour de Ski, Oberhof, GER: 52 (4km F Prologue)

World Cup Results:
2017 – World Cup, Pyeongchang, KOR: 4 (Sprint C)
2017 – World Cup, Falun, SWE: 10 (Sprint F)
2017 – World Cup, Ulricehamn, SWE: 3 (4x7.5km Relay)
2017 – World Cup, Toblach, ITA: 1 (Team Sprint F)
2015 – World Cup, Oteppa, EST: 8 (Team Sprint F)
2013 – World Cup, Davos, SUI: 6 (Sprint C)
2013 – World Cup, Lahti, FIN: 8 (Sprint F)
2013 – World Cup, Canmore, CAN: 7 (Sprint F)
2013 – World Cup, Quebec City, CAN: 10 (Sprint C)
2013 – World Cup, Gaellivare, SWE: 5 (4x7.5km Relay)
2012 – World Cup Finals, Falun, SWE: 3 (15km C Mst)
2012 – World Cup Finals, Stockholm, SWE: 3 (Sprint C)
2012 – World Cup, Drammen, NOR: 2 (Sprint C)
2011 – World Cup, Duesseldorf, GER: 5 (Team Sprint F)
2011 – World Cup, Kuusamo, FIN: 5 (Sprint C)
2011 – World Cup Drammen, Norway: 9 (Sprint)

National Results:
2016 – Haywood Ski Nationals, Whitehorse: 2 (10km C)
2013 – Haywood Ski Nationals, Whistler, B.C.: 1 (Sprint C)
2012 – Haywood Ski Nationals, Mont Ste Anne, Que.: 4 (Sprint F)
2011 – Haywood Ski Nationals, Canmore, Alta: 1 (Sprint)

National Ski Team