The day was historic not only for Mackie but for the sport itself. Stage 3 introduced a brand-new five-kilometre mass start heat format, the first time this race has ever been used in World Cup racing. Mackie thrived in the fast-paced racing, holding her own against seasoned World Cup veterans and surging to fifth in a field stacked with Olympic and World Championship medallists. 

“It’s pretty amazing,” Mackie said after the race. “I definitely didn’t expect that today, but I went into the race really excited to try a new format and race as hard as I could. I was lucky to be in a fast heat, so yeah, it was a great day.” 

For Mackie, the performance is a continuation of a remarkable trajectory. Just last season, she captured two bronze medals at the 2025 World Junior Championships, and now, less than a year later, she’s proving she belongs on the World Cup circuit to compete with the best. At only 20 years old, her result is more than a personal milestone — it’s a statement. 

Before the start, Mackie noted how important working together with athletes from other nations would be for success in the new format. “While we were waiting to grab our skis from fluoro testing, I could see some of the older, faster athletes like Jessie [Diggins] and some of the Swedish girls talking about strategy. I knew right away that everyone wanted to be in the fastest heat possible because that gives you an advantage.” 

She played her cards perfectly. “I didn’t do any leading, but I stuck with the leaders as much as I could. In the last kilometre, I think I went from 10th to 5th. I found a second gear and was able to push really hard and pass a few people at the finish.” 

After crossing the finish line in the third heat of the day, she would have to wait to see the times of the athletes in the final heat. “It was definitely nerve-wracking,” Mackie admitted. “At that point, I was still kind of in shock, and even now I don’t think it’s fully sunk in what kind of race I had today. When I saw the leaders from the fourth heat coming into the stadium and saw the time on the TV, I knew I had secured fifth place, which was pretty special.” 

The celebration was equally memorable. “I definitely felt like a newbie,” she laughed about her first World Cup flower ceremony. “Having all the girls who raced today there, along with the coaching staff and wax techs, made it even more meaningful. It’s also been a year since Katherine’s fourth place, and in the same location, we definitely have good momentum as a team.” 

The women’s podium featured Jessie Diggins of the United States taking the win in 10:51.2, with Sweden’s Emma Ribom in second at 10:56.7 and countrymate Moa Ilar in third at 10:58.1. Mackie’s final race time was 10:59.5, just 1.4 seconds off the podium. 

Mackie’s result also places her in elite company. She becomes the fourth Canadian woman to finish inside the top five on the World Cup in the past two years, joining Katherine Stewart-Jones, who finished fourth exactly one year ago; Sonjaa Schmidt, who raced to fourth in the sprint free technique race in Engadine; and Liliane Gagnon, who teamed up with Schmidt for fifth in the team sprint in Davos. This growing list of breakthrough performances highlights the depth and upward trajectory of Canada’s women’s program. 

Canada’s success didn’t stop with Mackie. The men’s squad delivered one of its strongest collective performances in years, placing three inside the top 15. Antoine Cyr led the way in 11th, while Xavier McKeever (13th) and Max Hollmann (14th) both achieved personal-best World Cup finishes. The trio combined with Tom Stephen to work as a team and keep the pace high. Stephen played an instrumental role leading the race in the final two kilometres, forcing the group to keep pushing the pace for Cyr, Hollmann and McKeever to move to the front of the heat across the finish line. 

The men’s podium featured Gus Schumacher of the United States taking the win in 9:35.4, with Austria’s Benjamin Moser in second at 9:35.6 and Norway’s Lars Heggen in third at 9:36.0. 

Mackie credited the team’s wax techs for an instrumental role in today’s results. “We had amazing skis today — absolute rockets — which is a huge asset, especially in a mass start. I also think this format has some luck involved, depending on which heat you’re in and who has their best day. It was a bit of an unknown how each heat would play out, but I think it really favoured the Canadians today, which was really cool to see.” 

The team will race one more time in Toblach before heading to Val di Fiemme for the final two stages of the Tour. The races will take place at the same venue as the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, providing a perfect test event ahead of the Games. 

Canadian Results – Stage 3
Women
5th Alison Mackie
44th Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt
49th Jasmine Drolet
58th Liliane Gagnon 

Men
11th Antoine Cyr
13th Xavier McKeever
14th Max Hollmann
59th Tom Stephen
60th Rémi Drolet
82nd Graham Ritchie 

Full results:
Women’s Stage 3: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/results.html?sectorcode=CC&raceid=49538
Men’s Stage 3: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/results.html?sectorcode=CC&raceid=49539 

How does it work? 

The Annual Club Fundraiser is a 3-month drive to raise funds (January 12 to March 31).  Clubs get to make their own fundraising page on Canada helps with videos, pictures and fundraising thermometers.  It’s very easy to do and only takes a few minutes.  Donations and donor comments are posted to the fundraising page making it very motivating to give and easy to share on social media.  Donors get a thankyou and tax receipt instantly after donating.  

Nordiq Canada will:  

• manage the online donation platform 

• issue tax receipts to donors 

• disburse funds to clubs monthly  

Why should my club participate?  

• It’s easy – Nordiq Canada provides the platform for receiving donations.  

• It’s better for donors – as a registered charity, Nordiq Canada can issue tax receipts to your donors, which serves as a huge incentive for many to donate.  

Ready to get started? 

Please complete and email these 2 forms, to mdunn@nordiqcanada.ca: 

• Annual Club Fundraiser Application Form 

• Vendor Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Request Form  providing your club’s banking information so we can disburse funds to you. 

Questions? Please email Megan at mdunn@nordiqcanada.ca.  

To see this year’s page and a sample of other club’s pages click here: 

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/nordiq-canada/p2p/Annual-Club-Fundraiser-26/ 

Click above to view the Selection Rationale

Congratulations to the following athletes who have been selected to the World Cup Period Two and Three (2 & 3) Team with races in Toblach and Val di Fiemme, Oberhof and Goms from December 26^th, 2025 – January 25^th, 2026. Athlete selections were based on the 2025-26 Nordiq Canada Competition Trip Selection Criteria.

P2/P3 Team 

Katherine Stewart-Jones – Nakkertok Nordic, AWCA – DECLINED

Sonjaa Schmidt – Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club, AWCA – DECLINED

Liliane Gagnon – Skibec, CNEPH

Amelia Wells – Strathcona Nordics, AWCA – DECLINED

Alison Mackie – Edmonton Nordic Ski Club, AWCA

Jasmine Drolet – Club Nordique Mont-Sainte-Anne, CNEPH

Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt – Fondeurs-Laurentides, AWCA

Tom Stephen – Foothills Nordic Ski Club, AWCA

Max Hollmann – Big Thunder Nordic, AWCA

Antoine Cyr – Skinouk, CNEPH

Rémi Drolet – Black Jack Ski Club, SMS T2

Xavier McKeever – Foothills Nordic Ski Club, AWCA

Graham Ritchie – Georgian Nordic, NTDC T-Bay

Athlete nominations were made by the Acting High-Performance Director (HPD) and reviewed by the High-Performance Committee (HPC) based on the 2025-26 Nordiq Canada Competition Trip Selection Criteria. The HPC oversaw the selection process as per the Nordiq Canada Nomination, Selection and Announcement policy. Members of this committee are:

• Graham Nishikawa (athlete rep – Para)
• Devon Kershaw (athlete rep – Olympic)
• Maria Lundgren (BC)
• Pauline Nadlersmith (MB)
• John Lofranco (Athletics Canada)

Final athlete selections were approved by Eric De Nys, Acting High-Performance Director: Edenys@nordiqcanada.ca

Selection decisions may be appealed under the Nordiq Canada Dispute Resolution and Appeals Policy. Any dispute must be brought directly to the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) to be heard pursuant to the Canadian Sport Dispute Resolution Code. An athlete who wishes to appeal shall file an appeal with the SDRCC within three (3) days of the nomination Synopsis and Rationale being posted to the Nordiq Canada website.

Click above to view the Selection Rationale

Congratulations to the following Athletes who have met criteria for nomination to the Canadian Olympic Committee for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games based on the Nordiq Canada 2026 Olympic Winter Games Selection Criteria (Internal Nomination Procedure).

This Synopsis and Rationale is not a team announcement and is only used to rationalize the Athletes who have met criteria for nomination. The official team announcement for the 2026 Milano Cortina cross-country Olympic team is December 19^th, 2025.

Canada currently has 6 quota spots for females, and 5 for males. One alternate for each gender has been nominated.

Nominations 

Antoine Cyr (Gatineau, Que.)
Jasmine Drolet (Rossland, B.C.)
Rémi Drolet (Rossland, B.C.)
Liliane Gagnon (Shawinigan-Sud, Que.)
Max Hollmann (Thunder Bay, Ont.)
Alison Mackie (Edmonton, Alta.)
Xavier McKeever (Canmore, Alta.)
Sonjaa Schmidt (Whitehorse, Yuk.)
Tom Stephen (Calgary, Alta.)
Katherine Stewart-Jones (Chelsea, Que.)
Amelia Wells (Victoria, B.C.)

 Alternate Nominations

Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt (Morin Heights, Que.)
Graham Ritchie (Parry Sound, Ont.)

Athlete nominations were made by the Acting High-Performance Director (HPD) and reviewed by the High-Performance Committee (HPC) based on the 2026 Olympic Winter Games Selection Criteria (Internal Nomination Procedure) – Amended Aug 28. The HPC oversaw the nomination process as per the Nordiq Canada Nomination, Selection and Announcement policy. Members of this committee are:

• Graham Nishikawa (athlete rep – Para)
• Devon Kershaw (athlete rep – Olympic)
• Maria Lundgren (BC)
• Pauline Nadlersmith (MB)
• John Lofranco (Athletics Canada)

Final athlete nominations were approved by Eric de Nys, Acting High-Performance Director: edenys@nordiqcanada.ca

Nomination decisions may be appealed under the Nordiq Canada Dispute Resolution and Appeals Policy. Any dispute must be brought directly to the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) to be heard pursuant to the Canadian Sport Dispute Resolution Code. An athlete who wishes to appeal shall file an appeal with the SDRCC within three (3) days of the nomination Synopsis and Rationale being posted to the Nordiq Canada website.

The 11 athletes qualified for Team Canada based on meeting the criteria outlined in Nordiq Canada’s Internal Nomination Procedures for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, including strong performances at the Nordiq Canada 2026 Olympic Winter Games Trials, which took place December 14-16 at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre in Vernon, British Columbia.

Katherine Stewart-Jones earned priority nomination for the Olympic team by having achieved two top-10 finishes in individual events during the 2024-25 FIS World Cup season. She will make her second Olympic appearance, after having competed at Beijing 2022. Stewart-Jones earned a career-best 4th-place finish in the women’s 20km freestyle on the World Cup circuit last December in Toblach, Italy. She helped her teammates race to a 9th-place finish in the women’s 4×7.5km relay at the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.

“It’s so exciting,” said Stewart-Jones. “I love racing, and especially when it’s on an even bigger stage. I really do think that pressure is a privilege in a lot of ways, and to get the opportunity to race at the highest level, at the Olympic Games, it’s going to be so exciting.”

Also making his return to the Olympic Winter Games is Antoine Cyr, who had a history-making moment in his Olympic debut at Beijing 2022 when he finished fifth in the men’s team sprint alongside Graham Ritchie for Canada’s best ever Olympic result in the event in classic technique. Cyr bettered that placement the following year at the 2023 FIS World Ski Championships with a fourth-place in free technique. Cyr also contributed to the fifth-place finish that the Canadian men achieved in the 4×7.5km relay at the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, alongside teammates Xavier McKeever, Max Hollmann, and Olivier Léveillé.

Making his Olympic debut, McKeever will join a family lineage of Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Son of Olympians Milaine Thériault and Robin McKeever, and nephew of Canada’s most decorated winter Paralympian, Brian McKeever, the 22-year-old McKeever will race for Team Canada as one of Nordiq Canada’s best young prospects. He contributed to Canada’s silver medal relay team at the 2022 FIS World Junior Championships with Rémi Drolet, Tom Stephen, and Olivier Léveillé, and teamed up with Cyr to finish ninth in the classic team sprint at the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. McKeever earned his spot on the Canadian Olympic Team after winning the sprint free in the final race at Nordiq Canada’s Olympic Trials in a photo finish.

“My decision to become a skier was created at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games watching my uncle and dad compete and win, so in my career I’ve had so many full circle moments, and this is another one of those full circle moments,” said McKeever. “Getting the chance to represent Canada at the Olympics is incredible, and it’s also so crazy that I’m going to be racing in Italy which is where I watched my mom compete at Turin 2006 when I was two years old. So it’s a pretty surreal moment to be able to race in Italy at the Olympics, 20 years later.”

Five women—Jasmine Drolet, Liliane Gagnon, Alison Mackie, Sonjaa Schmidt and Amelia Wells—will all make their Olympic debuts at Milano Cortina 2026 as part of a young and talented squad. Schmidt made Canadian history when she won the women’s freestyle sprint at the FIS U23 World Ski Championships in 2024. She followed that up with a fourth-place finish in the same event at the Engadin stop of the FIS World Cup circuit in January 2025. Meanwhile, Gagnon also captured a gold medal at the 2024 FIS U23 World Ski Championships, anchoring the 4x5km mixed relay with Hollmann, Jasmine Drolet, and Derek Deuling. Gagnon then won two bronze medals at the 2025 FIS U23 World Ski Championships, in the women’s 10km freestyle and the women’s 20km classic mass start.

Siblings Jasmine and Rémi Drolet will experience an Olympic Winter Games together, after Rémi competed for Team Canada at Beijing 2022. Tom Stephen and Max Hollmann will also make their Olympic debuts, after earning their nominations by winning the men’s 10km classic and men’s 10km free, respectively, at Nordiq Canada’s Olympic Winter Games Trials.

“This is one of the most promising generations of Canadian cross-country skiers we’ve seen in years,” said Beckie Scott, Olympic champion and CEO of Nordiq Canada. “The team is a strong mix of young talent and experienced veterans who can lead the group and set the standard both on and off the snow. We’re incredibly proud of this Olympic team and excited to cheer them on as they represent Canada on the world’s stage. It’s inspiring to watch this group continue to grow, challenge the world’s best, and show what Canadian skiers are capable of.”

Team Canada has won three Olympic cross-country skiing medals, all by women. Beckie Scott won gold in the 5km + 5km pursuit at Salt Lake City 2002. She teamed with Sara Renner to win silver in the women’s classic team sprint at Turin 2006. Also at those Games, Chandra Crawford won gold in the women’s free sprint.

Milano Cortina 2026 will be the first Olympic Winter Games at which the men and women will race the same distances, including the 50km mass start.

Cross-country skiing will take place February 7 to 22, 2026 (Days 1 to 16) at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in the Val di Fiemme region.

“Huge congratulations to the athletes who can now call themselves members of the Canadian Olympic Team,” said Jenn Heil, Team Canada’s Milano Cortina 2026 Chef de Mission. “The tenacity, resilience, and the incredible volume of training required in this sport is nothing short of inspiring. Congratulations on all your hard work, and we can’t wait to cheer you on as you wear the maple leaf with pride in Italy.”

Team Canada’s cross-country skiing team for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games also includes the following alternate athletes, coaches and support staff:

Alternate Athletes
Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt (Morin Heights, Que.)
Graham Ritchie (Parry Sound, Ont.)

Coaches and Support Staff
Eric de Nys (Vernon, B.C.) – Team Leader
Julia Mehre Ystgaard (Oslo, Norway) – Head Coach
Louis Bouchard (Quebec, Que.) – Coach
Yves Bilodeau (Quebec, Que.) – Wax Technician
Nicola Bonetti (Clusone, Italy) – Wax Technician
Sara Hutter (Laas, Italy) – Wax Technician
Toomas Kollo (Tallinn, Estonia) – Wax Technician
Alain Masson (Whitehorse, Yukon ) – Wax Technician
Magnus Noroy (Levanger, Norway) – Wax Technician
Jodi Perras (North Battleford, Sask.) – Massage Therapist
Thea Schwingshakl (Toblach, Italy) – Wax Technician
Félix-Antoine Vézina (Saint-Ferréol-Les-Neiges) – Wax Technician

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organizations.

The latest Team Canada Milano Cortina 2026 roster can be found here and the qualification tracker can be found here.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Nathaniel Mah, Marketing and Engagement
Nordiq Canada
C: 403-700-4927 
E: nmah@nordiqcanada.ca 

Tara MacBournie, Program Manager, Sport Communications
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 647-522-8328
E: tmacbournie@olympic.ca

Click above to view the Selection Rationale

Congratulations to the following athletes who have been selected to the Para Nordic World Cup Period Two (2) Team with Para Cross Country and Para Biathlon races in Notschrei GER / Finsterau GER / Jakuszyce POL from January 6^th – January 25^th, 2026. Athlete selections were based on the 2025-26 Para Nordic Competition Trip Selection Criteria.

P2 Cross-Country Team

Collin Cameron – ON

Derek Zaplotisnky – AB

Mark Arendz – PEI

Jesse Bachinsky / Levi Nadlersmith – ON

Logan Lariviere / Joe Hutton – ON

Leo Sammarelli – BC

Natalie Wilkie – BC

Madison Mullin / Brooke Ailey – ON

Brittany Hudak – SK

Christina Picton – ON

Emma Archibald – NS

Lyne-Marie Bilodeau – QC

P2 Biathlon Team

Mark Arendz – PEI

Collin Cameron – ON

Derek Zaplotisnky – AB

Natalie Wilkie – BC

Brittany Hudak – SK

Madison Mullin / Brooke Ailey – ON

Christina Picton – ON

Nomination Process: 

Athlete nominations were made by the High-Performance Manager and reviewed by the High-Performance Committee (HPC) based on the 2025-26 Nordiq Canada Competition Trip Selection Criteria. The HPC oversaw the selection process as per the Nordiq Canada Nomination, Selection and Announcement policy.  Members of this committee are:

• Graham Nishikawa (athlete rep – Para)
• Devon Kershaw (athlete rep – Olympic)
• Maria Lundgren (BC)
• Pauline Nadlersmith (MB)
• John Lofranco (Athletics Canada)

Final athlete selections were approved by Marshall Starkman, Para High-Performance Manager: mstarkman@nordiqcanada.ca

Selection decisions may be appealed under the Nordiq Canada Dispute Resolution and Appeals Policy. Any dispute must be brought directly to the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) to be heard pursuant to the Canadian Sport Dispute Resolution Code. An athlete who wishes to appeal shall file an appeal with the SDRCC within three (3) days of the nomination Synopsis and Rationale being posted to the Nordiq Canada website.

Notes: 

No female athletes are in a position to be named as ‘alternates’ for Paralympic Games nomination as they have not met the IPC’s Eligibility requirements.

One male athlete does meet the IPC’s Eligibility requirements, but we have elected (per our policy) not to name that athlete to the P2 trip in order to focus our attention on the 12 athletes who will be nominated to the Paralympic Games.  We will look to provide support domestically to keep this athlete engaged as an ‘alternate’ in the lead-up to the Paralympics.

1. Xavier McKeever — (Canmore, Alta.)
2. Graham Ritchie — (Parry Sound, Ont.)
3. Rémi Drolet — (Rossland, B.C.)

1. Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt — (Morin-Heights, Que.)
2. Katie Weaver —  (North Vancouver, B.C.)
3. Sonjaa Schmidt — (Whitehorse, Yukon)

Hollmann, from Thunder Bay, Ont., crossed the line in 24:50.8 to take the men’s victory, just ahead of Rémi Drolet (25:04.0, Rossland, B.C.) and Tom Stephen (25:16.7, Calgary, Alta.).

The win was surprising for Hollmann, who broke his scaphoid bone and underwent surgery in early October, spending months training without poles. “Feels great. I was definitely not expecting it,” Hollmann said. “Eleven weeks ago I broke my scaphoid, got surgery five weeks ago, and the surgeon said I might not even be skiing by now. Honestly, I had no expectations, I’m just happy to be here.”

From not even knowing if he was going to able to race at the event to winning, Hollmann said the moment he realized he had won was unforgettable.

“I didn’t actually realize I was leading when I crossed the line until I saw my teammates,” he said. “Seeing their faces light up and feeding off that energy was amazing.”

In the women’s race, Schmidt celebrated her birthday by claiming her second consecutive win with a time of 28:36.2. Jasmine Drolet (29:05.7, Rossland, B.C.) came back from a tough first day of racing to finish second, while Amelia Wells (29:36.1, Victoria, B.C.) rounded out the podium.

Drolet’s rebound was one of the highlights of the day. After crossing the line in tears yesterday, the U23 World Championship relay gold medalist showed resilience in a technique that isn’t her specialty.

Her brother Rémi also finished second in the men’s race, making it a family double podium.

“It feels good,” Drolet said. “I had a lot of pent-up energy from yesterday and wanted to give it my all today. Free technique isn’t my strongest, so to finish second feels amazing. Yesterday was hard, but I knew I had more to give.” Both Hollmann and Drolet were part of Canada’s U23 gold medal relay team in Planica, Slovenia, and their performances prove their potential for the Olympic stage.

Tomorrow will be the trials first head-to-head format race with the sprint free event hosting the perfect platform for athletes to try to grab a remaining nomination spot on Canada’s cross-country Olympic Team.

Women’s podium:

1. Sonjaa Schmidt — 28:36.2 (Whitehorse, Yukon)
2. Jasmine Drolet — 29:05.7 (Rossland, B.C.)
3. Amelia Wells — 29:36.1 (Victoria, B.C.)

Men’s podium:

1. Max Hollmann — 24:50.8 (Thunder Bay, Ont.)
2. Rémi Drolet — 25:04.0 (Rossland, B.C.)
3. Tom Stephen — 25:16.7 (Calgary, Alta.)

Full Results: https://zone4.ca/race/2025-12-15/67a43f40/results

Photos for Media use (Photo Credit Vanessa Garrison): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QjgMmcsHsAcaGfXsxIPiyk2z8eyvGlTe?usp=drive_link

Athlete interviews:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QjgMmcsHsAcaGfXsxIPiyk2z8eyvGlTe?usp=drive_link

Schmidt, from Whitehorse, Yukon, won the event with a time of 31:06.1, ahead of her close friend and teammate Amelia Wells (31:12.5, Victoria, B.C.) and Olivia Bouffard Nesbitt (31:23.5, Morin Heights, Que.). The U23 World Champion admitted the weight of expectation hit hard before the start.

“It’s relieving,” Schmidt said. “I cried before the race because of nerves. There was a last-minute change on skis, we decided to go with zeros instead of wax, and I hadn’t even tested them. But it was a really good decision. I was able to kick really well and push hard over the hills.”

Schmidt said sitting in the leader’s chair for the first time was surreal.

“Classic is not my strong technique, so I just had to tell myself I could still race hard and win a classic race,” she said. “To share the podium with Amelia, who’s been my training buddy for six years, makes this moment even more special.”

On the men’s side, Stephen, from Calgary, Alta., delivered a performance that even surprised himself, taking the win in 26:35.3, ahead of Olivier Léveillé (26:52.8, Sherbrooke, Que.) and Antoine Cyr (26:54.1, Gatineau, Que.).

“I threw up this morning because of nerves,” said Stephen, who has been battling a back injury and only returned to skiing on snow 10 days ago. “This is my first race of the season. To come out and win, it’s emotional. I’ve worked so hard, put everything into this year, and to see it pay off is unbelievable.”

Stephen admitted disbelief when he realized his winning time would hold up.

“Even when I finished, I thought someone would knock me down,” he said. “I still don’t believe it happened. To celebrate with my parents at the finish line was so emotional, they’ve supported me through everything.”

Waxing played a critical role in Sunday’s results. With temperatures hovering near zero, finding the perfect balance of kick and glide proved challenging. In a bold last minute call, the Alberta World Cup Academy switched from traditional kick wax to a rub ski for its women’s team, a gamble that paid off.

The trials, held at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre in Vernon B.C. are a critical step toward team selection for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. With only six available spots for the women, and four for the men every second counts.

Women’s podium:

1. Sonjaa Schmidt — 31:06.1 (Whitehorse, Yukon)
2. Amelia Wells — 31:12.5 (Victoria, B.C.)
3. Olivia Bouffard Nesbitt — 31:23.5 (Morin Heights, Que.)

Men’s podium:

1. Tom Stephen — 26:35.3 (Calgary, Alta.)
2. Olivier Léveillé — 26:52.8 (Sherbrooke, Que.)
3. Antoine Cyr — 26:54.1 (Gatineau, Que.)

Trials racing continues tomorrow with the 10km interval start free race, followed by the sprint free race the following day.

Full Results: https://zone4.ca/race/2025-12-14/96c58828/results

Photos for Media use (Photo Credit Vanessa Garrison): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1V1UsD_t6tUw7VB78TLQpaRVAgtkG-BXO?usp=drive_link

Athlete interviews: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1V1UsD_t6tUw7VB78TLQpaRVAgtkG-BXO?usp=drive_link

The trials were originally scheduled to be held in Prince George, British Columbia, at the Caledonia Nordic Centre. However, a lack of snow forced the difficult decision to relocate the event to Sovereign Lake. Nordiq Canada is thankful to the Caledonia Nordic Centre organizing committee for its hard work and commitment in preparing for the event, and grateful to the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre organizing committee for stepping in on short notice to host.  

Canada has four quota spots for men and six for women. Katherine Stewart-Jones of Chelsea, Quebec, is the only athlete who has met the nomination criteria so far and is currently racing on the Period 1 World Cup circuit.  

The nomination process and selection criteria is outlined in Nordiq Canada’s Internal Nomination Procedure. The Trials races will be used to select the athletes to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games Team.  

Event schedule  
Dec. 14 – 10 kilometre individual start classic  
Dec. 15 – 10 kilometre individual start free  
Dec. 16 – Sprint free  

“The trials are a key step on the road to Milano Cortina 2026 and a reflection of the depth and strength of cross-country skiing in Canada,” said Eric de Nys, Nordiq Canada’s acting high-performance director. “We are hoping for fair, high-quality racing that helps us select the best athletes to compete at the Olympics and make our country proud.”  Media are encouraged to attend the Trials event in person.   

 Canada’s cross-country team for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games will be announced on Dec. 19 in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee.  

Results: https://zone4.ca/event/2025/eEv2nY/  

More Information: https://www.sovereignlake.com/olympic-trials/  

Media Contact Nordiq Canada   

Nathaniel Mah   

Marketing and Engagement    

E: nmah@nordiqcanada.ca