The Team
These are the volunteers who do the work for IAWLS as members of the Executive Committee:
Colin Addison (AUS) was born in Melbourne in 1956. He began cross country skiing at age 30. When Colin first heard of the Kangaroo Hoppet he thought that a distance of 42 Km would take at least a long weekend to complete. However, he completed his first long distance race in 1995 and then completed his first WL Master in 2004. He can be readily identified on the snow by his prominent knee brace and his wife Judy who skis with him in most overseas races. Colin also participates in many other outdoor activities including kayaking and surf life saving. Before entering the Executive Committee in January 2007, Colin had already helped the Executive Committee with pertinent advice, in particular for overseas travels. Colin is a 3 x WL Master. Colin can be reached at colin@worldloppetskier.com.
Christophe Joanblanq (FRA) was born in Bayonne in 1962. He touched cross-country skis for the first time in 1985 during his telecom engineer studies. A few years later Christophe decided to take part in the Transjurassienne two months after having tried skating for the first time. Thanks to the good weather and fast snow that year, he was able to complete the race, though with several cramps. He skied again the Transjurassienne in 1992 and 1998, and decided that year, after the Engadin Ski Marathon, to complete his first Worldloppet Master at a slow but steady rate of 2 races per year, which he did in 2002. Nowadays Christophe regularly skies 2 to 5 WL races every year, mainly for the pleasure of skiing, travelling and meeting nice people sharing the same passion. He is a 3 x WL Master. Christophe lives in Poland since 2005, speaks French and English, and learns Polish. Christophe can be reached at christophe@worldloppetskier.com.
Bengt Karlsson (USA). Born in Stockholm in 1944, retired. Bengt has double nationalities, Swedish and American, and lives in the USA. He began XC skiing in his boyhood in Sweden. If Bengt is not skiing a WL race during the season, he may be found training on the excellent tracks around his house in Jackson, New Hampshire. Other interests are hiking, particularly the Munros in Scotland, chopping wood and model trains. Bengt entered the IAWLS Committee in December 2004. He is the IAWLS web master. Bengt is 4 x WL Master. Bengt can be reached at bengt@worldloppetskier.com.
Hannes Larsson (FRA). Born in Nokia in 1931, retired. Co-founder and member of the IAWLS Committee since 2000. Hannes started XC skiing at the age of three, which gives him the excuse of the experience when he still beats many younger skiers. He speaks 7 languages. He started skiing WL races before WL existed, he has also skied a number of other races in Finland, France, Italy, New Zealand and Iceland. Hannes is 15 x WL Master and the President of IAWLS. Hannes can be reached at hannes@worldloppetskier.com.
Minoru Matsuyama (JPN). Born in Tokyo in 1958. Member of the IAWLS Committee since 2001. After settling in Sapporo as a doctor in 1997, Minoru was inspired by a good XC instructor who had spent long periods in Finland. No wonder that Minoru has named his son Suomi! Minoru’s summer activities include marathons and mountain races. Minoru is a sub-chairman of the Seven Star Ski Organization in Hokkaido Japan. Minoru is 4 x WL Master. He maintains his own web page with information about races, particularly the ones in Japan. Please check it out at web.mac.com/genkiti21/. Minoru can be reached at minoru@worldloppetskier.com.
Blanka Nedvedická (CZE). Born in Rakovnik in 1962. As a resident in the area near the Jizera Mountains where Jizerská Padesátka takes place, she had the opportunity to become a good XC skier, regularly age class winner and sometimes on the podium in WL races. Blanka is also a mountain biker and an alpinist.
. As a tourist guide she has travelled extensively in the whole world. Since September 2005 Blanka is responsible for the ski track network in the whole Jizera Mountains area. Before entering the IAWLS Committee in early 2005, she already gave important contributions to the IAWLS work. Blanka is 5 x WL Master. Blanka can be reached at blanka@worldloppetskier.com.
Robert Palliser (CAN). Born in Toronto in 1946, retired. Member of the IAWLS Committee since 2000. Started XC skiing in the mid seventies. Skied first loppet in 1990, first Worldloppet in 1993. Has skied a number of non worldloppet races in Canada, Austria and Norway. Summer interests include sailing and canoeing. Robert is 7 x WL Master and the Secretary of IAWLS. Robert can be reached at robert@worldloppetskier.com.
Piotr Szkarłat (POL). Born in Gdynia in 1957. After a number of Bieg Piastow races in his home country and Jizerská Padesátka races in the neighbor country he started seriously skiing WL races in 1996. Before entering the IAWLS Committee in early 2005, Piotr gave over a period of two years some important contributions to IAWLS work. Piotr is 3 x WL Master. Piotr can be reached at piotr@worldloppetskier.com.
Lars Vagle (NOR) was born in Sandnes in 1973. He was educated to a Master of Science in computer science and works with software. Lars has been skiing as long as he has been able to walk. He has a cabin in the Norwegian mountains but travels abroad as much as possible. Lars likes traveling and to arrange group trips to WL races for fellow Norwegians. Before entering the Executive Committee in January 2007, Lars had already given important contributions to the Executive Committee’s work, thanks to his computer skills. Lars can be reached at lars@worldloppetskier.com.
This page was last revised on May 7, 2008