The defining feature of the World Cup stop was the weather. Heavy snowfall and gusting winds created slow course conditions and required constant wind adjustments on the shooting range. Combined with occasional rifle issues, athletes were pushed to manage not only physical demands, but significant technical and mental challenges as well.

12.5‑kilometre individual

In the men’s standing 12.5‑kilometre individual, Mark Arendz continued his winning streak, capturing his fourth World Cup victory of the season after shooting 18 for 20 and finishing in 36:16.4.

“We woke up with lots of fresh snow and the wind really picked up on the range,” said Arendz. “When I missed early, it put pressure on the rest of the shots. I focused on what I could control and skied as hard as I could to the line. It wasn’t the easiest one, mentally or physically.”

Top 3 — Men’s Standing Individual

1. Mark Arendz (CAN) — 36:16.4
2. Benjamin Daviet (FRA) — 36:45.6
3. Wu Junbao (CHN) — 36:49.9

In the women’s standing individual, Natalie Wilkie extended her winning streak, shooting 20 for 20 to claim gold in 39:50.1. Brittany Hudak joined her on the podium in third, finishing in 40:52.3 after one shooting penalty.

Top 3 — Women’s Standing Individual

1. Natalie Wilkie (CAN) — 39:50.1
2. Zhao Zhiqing (CHN) — 39:56.2
3. Brittany Hudak (CAN) — 40:52.3

Derek Zaplotinsky, the current men’s sitting World Cup overall leader, placed sixth in the individual in 44:04.8 with two misses. Christina Picton also finished sixth in the women’s sitting individual in 52:27.3, while Maddie Mullin and guide Brooke Ailey crossed the line seventh in 30:49.0 in the women’s vision‑impaired race.

Sprint pursuit

In sprint pursuit qualification, both Wilkie and Arendz shot eight for 10, earning starting positions of fourth and seventh, respectively, for the final. Hudak shot clean in qualification to start the final in third.

Wilkie began the final in pursuit of China’s Zhao Zhiqing and Guo Yujie, along with teammate Hudak. The two Canadians worked together through the opening lap and entered the range at the same time for the first shoot. Wilkie delivered a perfect 10 for 10 in the final, racing to second in 17:20.9 to earn her fifth consecutive podium. Hudak finished fifth in 18:19.5 after three misses in her second shooting stage.

“It was a really good week for our entire team,” said Wilkie. “There was a lot of teamwork, testing skis, building each other up and sharing information, and that really showed. I think when I’m racing happy and enjoying what I’m doing, I stay more relaxed, and that’s when I’m able to put together my best performances. This week had some really challenging moments with the weather, but as a team we did a good job keeping the energy positive.”

Top 3 — Women’s Standing Sprint Pursuit

1. Guo Yujie (CHN) — 17:20.9
2. Natalie Wilkie (CAN) — 17:52.7
3. Zhao Zhiqing (CHN) — 18:11.5

In the men’s standing sprint pursuit final, Arendz leaned on ski speed to move through the field, but one miss in his first bout made the gap to first too great to close. He finished third in 15:11.3, marking his 100th career World Cup start and 60th career podium.

Top 3 — Men’s Standing Sprint Pursuit

1. Marco Maier (GER) — 15:11.3
2. Cai Jiayun (CHN) — 15:14.7
3. Mark Arendz (CAN) — 15:35.6

With two shooting penalties in the final, Zaplotinsky placed fifth in 22:53.4.

7.5‑kilometre sprint

After waking up with sore throats, both Arendz and Picton opted not to start the final day’s sprint in Notschrei, choosing to prioritize recovery ahead of upcoming cross‑country races and the Paralympics.

“It was a difficult decision,” said Arendz. “Racing while you’re coming down with something can lead to longer recovery and missing races. The goal this season is to be at my best for the Paralympics.”

Heading into the women’s standing 7.5‑kilometre sprint, Wilkie and Hudak knew the competition from China would be fierce.

With calm conditions on the final day, clean shooting became a requirement to contend for victory. Wilkie delivered once again, posting a clean race to finish second in 23:25.1, just 7.7 seconds behind Zhao Zhiqing (CHN). Hudak recorded one miss but produced one of her strongest ski performances of the week, finishing third in 24:42.1 to earn her second podium at the World Cup stop.

“I was really happy with how I executed my race today,” said Hudak. “I had one miss on the range, but I felt strong on the skis and was able to push hard the entire way. My legs felt much better than they did earlier in the week, and that allowed me to really race with confidence.”

This World Cup stop marked Canada’s first opportunity this season to race against China, which fielded a full and competitive team across all categories.

“Racing such strong competition pushes everyone to a higher level,” she said. “China has a really competitive team, and having them on the start line forces you to be sharp in every part of the race. That’s exactly what you want heading toward the Games, full fields, hard racing and a clear picture of where you need to keep improving.”

Top 3 — Women’s Standing Sprint

1. Zhao Zhiqing (CHN) — 23:17.7
2. Natalie Wilkie (CAN) — 23:25.1
3. Brittany Hudak (CAN) — 24:42.1

In the men’s sitting sprint, Zaplotinsky shot clean and finished sixth in 22:53.4, retaining his overall World Cup lead. Mullin and Ailey placed eighth in 27:46.7 in the women’s vision‑impaired sprint.

“The athletes handled some of the toughest conditions we’ve seen in years and made smart decisions throughout the week,” said Canada’s Para biathlon coach Menno Arendz. “What’s been most encouraging is the consistency they’re showing, finding ways to improve, learning from each race and making adjustments as the week went on. That approach is exactly what we want to see at this stage of the season as we fine‑tune the small details and make our final adjustments heading toward the Games.”

Wilkie leaves Notschrei ranked first overall in women’s standing, with Hudak second overall. Arendz sits second overall in men’s standing. With three races remaining in the Para biathlon World Cup season, the Crystal Globe overall titles will be decided in Jakuszyce, Poland, ahead of the Paralympic Games.

Full Results: https://www.biathlonworld.com/results?EventType=PBSWRLCP

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 

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

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   

Dec 6, 10 km Individual Start Classic 

The first day of competition was filled with nerves as athletes got their first chance to see where they stacked up against the best in the world after a summer of training. In men’s sitting, Collin Cameron returned to World Cup racing after a shoulder injury and powered his way to silver. He shared the podium with Derek Zaplotinsky, who finished bronze behind Italy’s Giuseppe Romele. 

“There were times I felt like I wouldn’t make a start line again,” Cameron said while holding back tears. “To be here in Canmore, to hear the crowd, to feel the push of the course, it was joy, pure and simple. Sharing the podium with Derek makes it even better.” 

Canada’s standing squad matched the energy. Natalie Wilkie skied to silver in women’s standing, just behind Norway’s Vilde Nilsen, while Mark Arendz delivered bronze in men’s standing. The breakthrough of the day belonged to Maddie Mullin and guide Brooke Ailey, who celebrated their first World Cup podium with silver in women’s vision impaired. 

Coach Brian McKeever summed it up: “Collin back from injury, Derek on the podium, Natalie second, Maddie and Brooke’s first podium, and a lot of people returning or debuting. That’s what strong programs look like.” 

10 km Individual Start Classic Results 

Men’s Sitting  

Men’s Standing  

Women’s Standing  

Women’s Vision Impaired 

Dec 6, Sprint Free 

The second day of racing saw athletes go head-to-head on a technical and demanding sprint course. Natalie Wilkie did her best to challenge Norway’s Nilsen, though settled for another silver in the final heat. Maddie Mullin and Brooke Ailey turned their debut podium into a streak. “Teamwork is our foundation,” Ailey said. “At this level, it is communication, trust, and respect, and when we carry that onto the course and keep it fun, we ski better.” Mullin nodded. “Podiums are just the outcome of a lot of hard work together. When it matters, we know we can trust each other.”  

In men’s sitting, Collin Cameron raced his first World Cup sprint in more than two years and came within a whisker of gold. “I always want to win whatever race I get into and just cracked at the top of the final hill coming into the finish line,” he said after securing silver in the final. “It’s December, so it’s nice to know that I have some speed now and I can just build on that looking forward to March.” Mark Arendz and Derek Zaplotinsky finished fourth in their finals, narrowly missing the podium.  

Sprint Free Results

Women’s Standing  

Women’s Vision Impaired  

Men’s Sitting  

Dec 7, 10 km Mass Start Classic 

The mass start classic brought both fitness and tactics into the competition, which paid off for Canada in all three classes. Natalie Wilkie and Vilde Nilsen renewed their friendly rivalry. “Having her just in front is motivating,” Wilkie said. “I have gotten closer and it makes me want to be faster. I can almost taste it.” Wilkie claimed her third silver of the weekend in women’s standing, showing the race shape is there with time to improve as the season progresses. 

Mark Arendz fought to catch the race leaders but ultimately settled for bronze in the men’s standing, a reminder of his ability to manage packs and pace. The men’s sitting race featured a solo effort out front by Derek Zaplotinsky, who started with a lead and hung onto the race leaders, landing him another bronze behind Giuseppe Romele and Aaron Pike of the United States. “I am a slow starter most seasons,” he said. “To have two podiums right away gives me confidence for the year. Sharing the podium with Collin on the first day meant a lot. It has been a long road for both of us.” Collin Cameron finished close behind in fourth, adding another top result to a comeback weekend. In women’s vision impaired, Maddie Mullin and guide Brooke Ailey kept the streak alive with a third consecutive silver, and in men’s vision impaired, Jesse Bachinsky and guide Levi Nadlersmith skied to a best-ever fifth, a great result that energizes a team in the final moments of a race weekend. 

10 km Mass Start Classic Results 

Women’s Standing  

Men’s Standing  

Men’s Sitting  

Women’s Vision Impaired  

The team now shifts focus to the Para biathlon events, aiming for the top step of the podium. Mark Arendz will begin his campaign to capture his fifth overall Biathlon World Cup title, while Natalie Wilkie, Collin Cameron and Brittany Hudak will look for their first World Cup win of the season. Para high performance manager Marshall Starkman praised the collective effort of the staff and the energy around the athletes. 

“Kicking off the season on home snow with 12 medals is a testament to the athletes and staff,” he said. “We learned quickly, we supported each other and the pace never let up from the first start to the last awards. Now we turn that momentum into biathlon.” 

The IBU Para Biathlon World Cup in Canmore runs Dec. 11 to 14. 

Full Results: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=PCC&eventid=57983&seasoncode=2026

The competitions, formats, and Olympic Team onboarding session will proceed as planned from December 13-17, 2025. An event schedule will be published in the race notice.   

Current snow conditions at Caledonia Nordic Ski Centre have made it impossible to guarantee the quality of courses required for an Olympic qualification event, despite the best efforts of volunteers, snowmaking crews, and organizing committee members who have worked tirelessly to prepare the venue. With no flexibility in the competition timeline, and with Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre having sufficient natural snow accumulation, the difficult decision was made to move the Trials to Sovereign Lake. 

“This decision was extremely difficult, and we are deeply grateful to the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club and the Prince George community for everything they put into preparing for this event,” said Beckie Scott, CEO of Nordiq Canada. “Their commitment, professionalism, and passion reflect why Prince George is recognized as a world-class Nordic venue. Unfortunately, weather is the one factor none of us can control.” 

Nordiq Canada also extended its appreciation to Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre for stepping in on short notice. “Sovereign Lake has a strong history of hosting high-quality competitions, and we are confident it will provide the conditions our athletes need as they compete for spots on the 2026 Olympic Team,” added Scott. 

A Sincere Thank You to Prince George  

Nordiq Canada extends its sincere appreciation to the volunteers, sponsors, funding partners, and community members in Prince George who committed their time, energy, and resources to the 2026 Olympic Winter Games Trials. The support demonstrated by the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club, the Government of British Columbia, the City of Prince George, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, Tourism Prince George, Northern Development Initiative Trust, presenting sponsor Canadian Tire Prince George, and the wider community highlights the strength and passion for Nordic sport in Northern BC. Although the event will not take place in Prince George this year, the community’s dedication continues to position the region as a premier destination for future national and international competitions. 

“Finding a nutrition solution that works for our team throughout the winter season is always a priority,” said Julia Mehre Ystgaard, Nordiq Canada’s World Cup Lead. “We need a brand that can provide scientifically backed products for everything from a sprint race to a 50k, and Amacx Sport Nutrition delivers exactly that.”

Amacx Sport Nutrition provides the right balance of carbohydrates, electrolytes, and recovery support, helping athletes maintain energy and recover effectively during one of the most demanding competitive schedules in sport. Their proven track record with elite endurance teams such as EF Pro Cycling and Visma | Lease a Bike gives Nordiq Canada confidence that our athletes will benefit from the same world-class fueling solutions trusted at the highest level of competition.

“Nutrition is a cornerstone of performance, and having Amacx on board gives our athletes access to top-tier products that align with our evidence-based approach,” said Kelly Drager, Lead Performance Dietitian for the National Ski Team. “This partnership allows us to fine-tune fueling strategies so athletes can train harder, recover faster, and compete with confidence.”

The partnership also simplifies logistics for World Cup athletes, ensuring consistent access to the right products no matter where the season takes them.

“Last year, we spent valuable time and money trying to source products that met our standards. This year, Amacx has solved that problem, giving us peace of mind and allowing athletes to focus on performance,” said Julia Mehre Ystgaard.

For athletes, the difference is tangible.

“When it comes to racing for gold, every detail matters,” said Mark Arendz, National Ski Team athlete and Paralympic gold medalist. “Having reliable, high-quality nutrition products makes a huge difference in how we prepare and perform. I’m excited to see the impact this partnership will have on our team.”

For more information about Amacx Sport Nutrition, visit https://amacx.ca.