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The Alberta World Cup kicks off today in Canmore, Alta.

Four Yukon cross-country skiers will represent Canada and ski in a mass start Classic Technique race at the Canmore Nordic Centre. Men will ski 15 km, while the women will go 10.

Senior national team members Emily and Graham Nishikawa, as well as David Greer and Dahria Beatty will represent the territory.

While the Nishikawa siblings have skied at the World Cup stage in the past, today's race marks the first time both Greer and Beatty will compete.

Greer has been training in Whitehorse with the newly-established Yukon Elite Squad. He was glad to see his results were on par with Canada's top skiers in Canmore.

"Obviously I was pretty excited when I knew I was going to ski in some World Cup events,鈥� Greer told the Star. "I'm really looking forward to it.鈥�

Yet while the 23-year-old knows the races are a great opportunity, he is viewing them as an "added bonus鈥� as they come early in the season and he is hoping to avoid burnout.

"It's important for me to be racing well all season long,鈥� he said. "I want to place well in the NorAm standings, and then there's the world championships in February.鈥�

He credited his Yukon Elite teammates for helping him achieve the feat of making the World Cup team.

Beatty, 18, also expressed excitement on the verge of her first World Cup experience.

"There's so many different nations here and we get to see some of the best athletes in the world training,鈥� she said. "It's really exciting to get a chance to race against them, and a great learning experience.鈥�

Still a junior skier, Beatty isn't fazed with the notion of facing off with some of the world's best senior athletes.

"It's always been something that I've wanted to accomplish,鈥� she admitted. "Having the Worlds here in Canada gives more spots to Canadians. It's a great opportunity for junior racers to have. It will help so much with just getting used to international competition.鈥�

On Saturday, all Yukon athletes but Greer will compete in a 1.3 km Free Technique Sprint, and Sunday will feature a Skiathlon 鈥� 15 km Classic/15 km Skate for the men, and a 7.5 km Classic/7.5 km Skate for the women. All four Yukon skiers will participate.