Fresh tracks: Athletes from the north want to blaze a path to the Olympics

LA RONGE — The staccato swick-swick-swick sound of skis hitting snow speeds up as Timothy Ratt shortens his stride to take a tight turn around a pylon.
The 12-year-old leans forward, using his arms and legs to power himself ahead. He shifts his weight gracefully from foot to foot. He makes it look easy.
It was just three years ago that the youth from the northern Saskatchewan community of Sucker River first hopped on skis. He was drawn to the sport because many of his friends were playing