The agreement provides Canada’s national cross-country ski program with apparel support from a brand deeply rooted in Nordic sport, helping equip athletes and staff for training, competition and international representation.

Founded by Olympic legend Bjørn Dæhlie, the Norwegian brand is one of the most recognized names in Nordic ski apparel. Through the partnership, Canadian athletes pursuing success on the world stage will have access to performance-focused apparel designed for the demands of elite training and competition.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be embarking on this partnership, knowing the quality and detail that Dæhlie brings to their apparel,” said Beckie Scott, CEO of Nordiq Canada. “Dæhlie has a long and respected history in cross-country skiing and a reputation for creating apparel that performs in the most demanding conditions. Our athletes and staff work exceptionally hard toward excellence every day – and they deserve to have clothing and gear that can do the same. No pun intended but I think this is a great fit!”

Athletes across Nordiq Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic programs have welcomed the news, recognizing the importance of reliable, high-performance apparel throughout a demanding training and competition season.

“It is a privilege to welcome Dæhlie as Nordiq Canada’s newest partner. With their long-proven record of World Cup, World Championship and Olympic success, I dream that together we can add even more Paralympic success while exploring the opportunities this partnership may create,” said Mark Arendz, Paralympic medallist and member of Canada’s National Para Nordic Team.

“It means so much to train in a brand that sees the strength, resilience and potential of Para Nordic athletes in Canada,” said Emma Archibald, a member of Canada’s National Para Nordic Team. “I’m so excited for this partnership and for the recognition and support behind our sport and its athletes.”

With Canadian athletes continuing to push for success on the world stage, the National Ski Team and National Para Nordic Team are building momentum toward future international achievements.

Together, Nordiq Canada and Dæhlie will help Canadian athletes perform at their best while inspiring more Canadians to get outside, get active and discover the lifelong benefits of cross-country skiing.

For more information about Dæhlie, visit www.daehlie.com.

“We are delighted to welcome Diane to the Nordiq Canada team as our new Para Nordic Development Lead,” said Beckie Scott, Chief Executive Officer of Nordiq Canada. “The Para Nordic program is one of Nordiq Canada’s crown jewels, and this is a critical role in strengthening our Para Nordic development pathway. We are very excited about the expertise, energy and leadership Diane brings, and how this role will contribute to creating opportunities for building a strong future for Para Nordic skiing in Canada.”

With more than 25 years of experience in coaching, education, and sport development, including as a Master Coach Developer within the NCCP system, Diane brings extensive expertise in athlete, coach, and organizational development. Diane is committed to strengthening an inclusive and sustainable Para Nordic pathway across Canada.

Town Hall Recording: Watch the recording
Presentation Slides: Download the slide deck

We appreciate your ongoing engagement and feedback as we work together to support the Canadian nordic skiing community.

Access to Frozen Thunder will be coordinated by the new CNC Volunteer Society this year. Full details, including information on purchasing a Frozen Thunder bib, are available here: Full details & bib purchase

What’s staying the same?

• A Frozen Thunder bib is still required for access between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., and skiing during this period remains primarily intended for high-performance users.
• Skiers must also hold either a Canmore Nordic Centre Early Season Pass or purchase a Canmore Nordic Centre Day Pass, available at the Day Lodge.
• Events taking place before January 31 are required to pay a Snow Enhancement Fee to help offset rollout and maintenance costs.
• Skiers with a morning bib may continue skiing in the afternoon. However, morning access is restricted to those holding a morning bib.

What’s different this year?

• Anyone accessing Frozen Thunder after 12:00 p.m., including users after 5:00 p.m., must purchase either an Afternoon Event Bib or Day Bib.
• Ski clubs using Frozen Thunder for programming are asked to contribute toward funding the facility. Please contact your club administrator for more information.
• Bib purchase and administration are no longer coordinated by Nordiq Canada and are now managed by the new CNC Volunteer Society.

If you are a coach, volunteer, parent, athlete or participant, join Nordiq Canada’s leadership for this interactive session to learn, share and help shape the future of cross-country skiing and Para nordic skiing in Canada.

We look forward to connecting with you!

DETAILS

When: Wednesday, October 7th 2026
5 pm PT/ 6 pm MT/ 8 pm ET

Teams meeting link: UPDATED LINK HERE * UPDATED 6th OCTOBER*

During the Town Hall, please submit any questions through the Q&A panel. We’ll answer as many as we can during the Q&A session at the end of the event.

AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS

• Welcome and community update
• High-performance program updates, coaching staff, selection criteria, and U18 opportunities
• Events and youth development initiatives, including racing pathways and competition policies
• Coach development opportunities and program enhancements
• Para Nordic program updates and future priorities
• Live Q&A with Nordiq Canada leadership
• Closing remarks and next steps

At the heart of this role is storytelling. The Manager will find, develop and share the stories of Nordiq Canada’s athletes, coaches, clubs, programs and activities – creating compelling content that connects our community, strengthens our brand, informs our supporters and demonstrates the impact of our work.

Click here to learn more and apply

The course combines expert-led virtual sessions, technical discussions, participant presentations, practical assignments, and on-site learning opportunities during the 2027 Nordiq Canada Ski Nationals. Participants will develop the skills required to assess competition readiness, apply competition rules, work effectively as members of a Jury, and support the delivery of safe, fair, and high-quality competitions.

Application deadline: September 25, 2026.
Candidate confirmation: Late September

For complete course details and application information, read more here:

TD Course

The NCDF Team Coatsworth Athlete Grant is an annual grant delivered through the Nordiq Canada Development Fund. The aim of the grant is to support individual elite athletes who are in financial need and have demonstrated the potential to reach international podiums. An athlete’s involvement in furthering their education will also be a consideration.

The grant was established through a generous gift from long-time Canadian cross-country ski supporter and former Nordiq Canada Board Chair Jamie Coatsworth. Jamie’s continued support has made it possible to expand the grant for the 2026–27 season and provide funding to three additional athletes.

The three additional grants will provide $2,000 each to:

• One Olympic stream female athlete
• One Olympic stream male athlete
• One Paralympic stream athlete

APPLICATION FORM (click to view)

Athletes wishing to apply for the grant must provide the details outlined in the application form to info@nordiqcanada.ca by September 28, 2026.

Nordiq Canada has announced its 16-athlete World Cup Period One (WC P1) team for the opening competitions of the 2026–27 FIS Cross-Country World Cup season in Ruka, Finland; Trondheim, Norway; and Davos, Switzerland.
After evaluating potential venue options and snow reliability, Nordiq Canada has confirmed that a mid-November WC P1 Trials event will not be held.

The High Performance Committee determined that it would not be possible to deliver a trials competition that meets the standard required for World Cup selection. The decision was based on several factors, including the lack of guaranteed snow conditions, the absence of a venue capable of providing a World Cup-standard race course, and the likelihood that, even with sufficient snow, available course widths would not safely and fairly accommodate the race formats required for athlete selection.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that World Cup selections are made through a process that is fair, credible, and reflective of the demands athletes will face on the international stage,” said Eric de Nys, High Performance Director, Nordiq Canada. “Rather than force a trials event under uncertain conditions, we chose the path that best preserves the integrity of the selection process while remaining consistent with our published criteria. We are excited to send a team that has earned this opportunity and is well positioned to represent Canada as the World Cup season begins.”

In accordance with the published 2026–27 World Cup Selection Criteria, the High Performance Committee has finalized the World Cup Period One team through the established objective performance criteria, followed by selections made under Section 5 of the published World Cup Selection Criteria, where applicable.

World Cup Period One Team
Men
Selected through Objective Criteria
• Olivier Léveillé – COC Leader
• Antoine Cyr
• Tom Stephen
• Xavier McKeever
• Remi Drolet

Selected under Section 5 of the published World Cup Selection Criteria
• Max Hollmann
• Sasha Masson
• Graham Ritchie
• Finn Redman
• Pierre Grall-Johnson

Women
Selected through Objective Criteria
• Sonjaa Schmidt – COC Leader
• Alison Mackie
• Liliane Gagnon
• Katherine Stewart-Jones

Selected under Section 5 of the published World Cup Selection Criteria
• Jasmine Drolet
• Ruby Serrouya

The World Cup Period One selection process reflects Nordiq Canada’s commitment to applying its published selection criteria while ensuring athlete selection is conducted through processes that are safe, equitable, and consistent with the performance standards required for international competition.
The World Cup Period One campaign opens in Ruka, Finland (November 27–29) before continuing to Trondheim, Norway (December 4–6) and concluding in Davos, Switzerland (December 12–13), providing the team’s first opportunity to establish Nations Cup momentum and build toward the remainder of the 2026–27 international season.
Nordiq Canada congratulates all selected athletes and wishes the team success as it begins the World Cup season representing Canada on the international stage.

26-27 World Cup P1 Selection and Rationale (1)

Byström joins Nordiq Canada following six years as High Performance/Sports Director for Ski Team Sweden, where he led the national team program through a highly successful period on the international stage. Over the past six years, teams under his leadership have achieved 44 World Championship and Olympic medals, including 14 World Championship gold medals and five Olympic gold medals.

Prior to leading Sweden’s cross-country program, Byström served as High Performance/Sports Director with the Swedish National Biathlon Team and spent five years coaching within the Norwegian Ski Federation. His coaching experience includes working with some of the world’s most accomplished cross-country skiers, including Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Simen Hegstad Krüger, Stina Nilsson, Jonna Sundling, and Maja Dahlqvist.

In his new role, Byström will provide strategic expertise across three key areas of Nordiq Canada’s high-performance program: coach development, the development athlete pathway, and National Team performance support.

A significant focus will be helping Nordiq Canada strengthen the professional development pathway for Canadian coaches, from the club and development levels through to the National Ski Team. Through mentorship, workshops, on-snow support, and the sharing of international best practices, Byström will help build the skills, confidence, and capabilities of the next generation of Canadian high-performance coaches.

He will also provide strategic guidance to strengthen the pathway for junior and U23 athletes progressing toward World Cup, World Championship, and Olympic performance, while supporting Nordiq Canada’s High Performance Director, Head Coach, and coaching staff with international competition planning and preparation.

“I’m incredibly excited to join Nordiq Canada and contribute to the continued development of Canada’s high-performance system,” said Anders. “There is tremendous potential across the country, and I look forward to working alongside athletes, coaches, and leaders to strengthen the pathways, share knowledge, and build the systems that will support international success for years to come.”

“Anders brings an extraordinary depth of experience from two of the strongest cross-country ski systems in the world,” said Beckie Scott, CEO of Nordiq Canada. “Just as importantly, he is passionate about developing people—coaches, athletes, and teams. His experience, perspective, and commitment to building sustainable high-performance systems will be an invaluable addition as we continue strengthening Canada’s pathway to international success.”

Byström holds a Bachelor of Science in Sports Science, specializing in sport psychology, from Halmstad University in Sweden.