“We are excited to see what this talented group can achieve on the international stage,” said Julie Beaulieu, Nordiq Canada’s Sport Development Director. “The FISU games are an important part of our development pathway; supporting Canadians in pursuing both sport and education is a key priority. These athletes exemplify that it’s possible to excel in both areas at a high level.  

Nine men and eight women were selected through performances at qualification events held in Sovereign Lake, B.C., and Gatineau, Que., and Canmore, Alta.  

Among the team members are athletes such as Noah Weir Chaba, who competed at the 2023 FIS Junior World Ski Championships, and Sophie Tremblay and Robin Mason, both part of Canada’s 2023 delegation to the FISU Games in Lake Placid. 

Brothers Alexander and Nicholas Randall will have the rare opportunity to compete together on the international stage. 

“I don’t think the full weight of this opportunity has hit me yet,” said Nicholas, the older of the two. “I’ve done smaller multi-sport events before, but to get this chance on the world stage is unbelievable. It’s something I’ve been chasing since I started high-performance skiing seven years ago and doing it with my brother makes it even more special.” 

Both full-time students at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont., the Randall brothers balance academics and competitive skiing, racing on Nordiq Canada’s domestic race circuit, which features a dedicated category for student-athletes. 

“Qualifying for this event as a university student demonstrates dedication to two demanding pursuits,” Nicholas added. “Balancing sport and academics shows it’s possible to combine passions and achieve meaningful success in both.” 

Another student-athlete achieving this balance is Sarah Cullinan from the University of Calgary. 

“It’s very exciting to be named to the FISU Games team alongside other Canadian student-athletes,” said Cullinan. “Representing Canada is always an honour, and showing that it’s possible to excel in academics and sport at a high level is an incredible opportunity.” 

“We are also encouraged to see Para nordic skiing being included in this year’s games for the first time”, said Julie Beaulieu. “It’s something long overdue and amazing to see another international race opportunity for Canada’s developing Para nordic skiers.” 

For the first time in FISU Games history, Para nordic events will be included, providing a platform for athletes like Charles Lecours, Canada’s first Para nordic competitor at the Games. 

I’m so excited to get the opportunity to race for Canada in Italy with the best Para nordic skiers my age,” said Lecours. “It’s so cool to be part of Canadian cross-country skiing history, especially when we’re talking about inclusion.”  

The FISU World University Games is an international multi-sport event where student-athletes represent their country on the world stage. This year, the Games return to their birthplace of Turin, where six municipalities will host 11 sports over 11 days from January 13–23, 2025. 

Introducing Team Canada:  

Women  

Helen McCulligh – Carleton University 

Sarah Cullinan – University of Calgary 

Brooke Ailey – Nipissing University 

Sienna Brennan-Raab – University of Calgary 

Emmanuelle Paquet – Cégep Garneau 

Sophie Tremblay – Laurentian University 

Stella Duncan – University of Calgary 

Sophie Giangrande – Carleton University 

Men 

Noah Weir Chaba – University of Calgary 

Rémi Boilard – Université Laval 

Robin Mason – University of Calgary 

Xavier Normandin – Cégep Garneau 

Nicholas Randall – Lakehead University 

Alexis Ermel – Université Laval 

Mats Halvorsen – Université Laval 

Alexander Randall – Lakehead University 

Para Nordic
Charles Lecours – Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières  

For more information: 2025 FISU World University Games 

For results: FIS Cross-Country 

Cover Photo: Doug Stephen

“To some people, it might seem like this result came out of nowhere,” said Stewart-Jones after the race. “But for me, I felt as good as I did two seasons ago. I’ve had some bad luck, and it was really frustrating. I knew things would eventually come together—I just had to be patient.” 

From illness last season to pole breaks, binding malfunctions and crashes this season, Stewart-Jones had faced numerous setbacks, often coming close to the top 10 but never finishing higher than 18th in the last two seasons. 

“I think there’s always an element of luck in racing, and luck hasn’t been on my side. Today, though, it felt like everything—luck, fitness and mental focus—came together. It’s been a long time coming, and I’m really stoked.” 

Athletes in the interval start format begin 30 seconds apart. Norway’s Astrid Øyre Slind, started just behind Stewart-Jones and quickly became a key part of the race dynamics. 

“Once Slind caught up to me, I just kept telling myself not to lose contact,” said Stewart-Jones. “I knew skiing alone would be much more difficult, so staying with her became my main focus.” 

Slind ultimately claimed victory, crossing the finish line in 48:54. Fellow Norwegian Therese Johaug finished 3.3 seconds behind, with Finland’s Kerttu Niskanen 20.3 seconds back. 

Stewart-Jones stayed with Slind until the finish, clocking in at 49:22 and tying with Germany’s Victoria Carl. Just 7.5 seconds off the podium, this result cements Stewart-Jones as a serious

Katherine Stewart-Jones celebrates with the Canadian World Cup staff after in Toblach, Italy.

contender on the World Cup circuit. 

“When I crossed the finish line, I didn’t even check the results. I knew I was in the top 10, but it wasn’t until I saw my team’s reaction that I realized how good it was.” 

“I saw their faces and was like, okay, it must have been really good, and I still can’t really believe it.” 

The last time a Canadian woman placed in the top four of a World Cup race was in 2011, when Chandra Crawford earned a second-place finish in Rogla, Slovenia. 

Stewart-Jones now sits 19th in the Tour de Ski standings, 3 minutes and 36 seconds behind the leader. The seven-stage event, much like the Tour de France, combines results from each stage to determine the overall standings. 

“My goal at the start of the tour was to finish in the top 15. I was really worried going into today because I was behind, but this result helped me catch up. Now I just need to stay consistent.” 

Canada’s Liliane Gagnon (Shawinigan-Sud, Que.) finished 38th with a time of 51:39, while Olivier Léveillé (Sherbrooke, Que.) and Antoine Cyr (Gatineau, Que.) placed 48th and 56th, respectively, in the men’s race. 

In Stage 4 tomorrow, athletes will compete in the 15-kilometre pursuit classic, with starting positions based on today’s results. Stewart-Jones will begin in fifth, ready to chase a podium finish. 

Full Women’s Results 

Natalie Wilkie of Salmon Arm, B.C., extended her podium streak, finishing second in the classic sprint event behind Norway’s Vilde Nilsen. China’s Zhiqing Zhao secured the bronze. In her season debut, Emma Archibald of Fall River, N.S., narrowly missed the podium, placing fourth. 

Mark Arendz of Hartsville, P.E.I., continued his strong start to the season with a bronze medal. He finished behind Germany’s Sebastian Marburger, who took gold, and France’s Benjamin Daviet, who earned silver. 

“I felt it went really well, transitioning from biathlon just two days earlier to being a contender in the qualification and finishing third,” said Arendz. “The winner was always going to be extremely tough to beat on the day, but I put myself in a position to secure a podium and fight for second place.” 

For the first time since 2014, Canada fielded an athlete in every classification category at a Para Nordic World Cup. This milestone was made possible by the addition of development athletes Logan Larivière (Lively, Ont.), Madison Mullin (Fergus, Ont.), and Charles Lecours (Trois-Rivières, Que.), who made their World Cup debuts. Supporting the team were guides Matthew Strum (Canmore, Alta.), a Canadian biathlete, and Tory Audet (Chelsea, Que.), a former national ski team athlete. 

“It’s great to see that we have athletes earning podiums, and at the same time we have athletes starting their first world cup’s all in one weekend,” said Nordiq Canada’s Para Nordic Development Coach Leslie Bode. “It shows that our development program is working, and it’s so exciting to see the older athletes like Mark (Arendz) and Brittany (Hudak) becoming mentors to the younger athletes”. 

Mullin and guide Audet placed sixth in the women’s visually impaired category. Larivière and guide Strum finished 14th in the men’s visually impaired category, while Lecours placed 31st in their World Cup debuts. 

Day 2 saw athletes face temperatures as low as –18 C during the 12.5-kilometre individual free event. Brittany Hudak and Mark Arendz both finished just off the podium in fourth place, clocking times of 33:00 and 28:52, respectively. 

In her season debut, Christina Picton of Fonthill, Ont., finished eighth with a time of 42:27. Sherbrooke, Que.’s Lyne-Marie Bilodeau placed ninth, stopping the clock at 44:02 in the women’s sitting category.  

“It was nice starting the season in a familiar place like Vuokatti,” said Picton. “I’m proud of the training season I had, and it was great to test myself on trails I’ve raced many times before. It was exciting to have a larger field in the women’s sitting category, giving me a clear sense of where I stand and how to set my goals for the rest of the season.” 

In the third and final race of the Vuokatti Para cross-country World Cup, athletes raced head-to-head in the 10km Mass Start Free event. Natalie Wilkie and Norway’s Nilsen Vilde were matched through the first three laps of the race in the women’s standing field. On the final lap Wilkie made the decisive move coming across the line with a triumphant celebration at a time of 32:44, 8 seconds ahead of Vilde. China’s Zhiqing Zhao finished third at 34:02, while Prince Albert, Sask.’s Brittany Hudak finished fourth (34:28). 

“The head-to-head racing format is always exciting, especially since we don’t race this way often,” said Wilkie. “Racing against athletes with different abilities is fascinating because we all have unique strengths—I’m strong on the hills, but two-poled athletes are faster on the flats. 

“My strategy was to stay with the lead group and be smart about my tactics. I tucked in behind some Norwegians to conserve energy throughout the windy course and made my final push on the last lap. 

“I’m thrilled with how my race played out today, and I’m ecstatic to take the win! It was extra inspiring to hear coaches from other countries cheering me on—I definitely gave it everything I had.” 

Starting in 13th place with a 2:42 deficit, Mark Arendz surged through the field in the men’s standing race. By the final lap, he climbed into fifth place and delivered a final push to secure bronze with a time of 31:34. China’s Chenyang Wang won gold at 29:55, followed by teammate Xiaobin Liu, who took silver at 30:47. 

“Eleven podiums over six races is an awesome start to the season,” said Canada’s Para nordic coach Brian McKeever, a 20-time Paralympic medalist. “There’s still room for improvement, and with World Championships on the calendar this season, every race is an opportunity to learn and prepare for that event.” 

This season, Canada’s Para nordic team will compete for Para Biathlon World Championships titles in Pokljuka, Slovenia, from Feb. 6-9, and Para Cross-country World Championships titles in Toblach, Italy, from Feb. 11-14. 

Arendz now leads the overall standing, while Emma Archibald is ranked fourth as the team heads into the holiday break. 

“After the sprint and the first 10km, I was surprised to learn that I’d have the leader’s bib for the mass start,” said Arendz. “With the third-place finish in the mass start, I’ll hold onto the leader’s position heading into the new year. I don’t recall ever having both leader’s bibs at the same time after a World Cup. It shows my improved consistency and reflects the decision to compete in every race so far this season.” 

Canada results summary  

Full Results: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=PCC&eventid=56092&seasoncode=2025 

“Coming into this season was just about starting new,” said 11-time Paralympic medalist Arendz. “Last season was that undefeated season, but this year we start with different focuses as we look towards the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games.” 

Arendz picked up right where he left off, capturing gold in the 7.5-kilometre sprint race and shooting a perfect 10-for-10 on the range. Finishing 12 seconds behind was Ukraine’s Serhii Romaniuk, with China’s Xiaobin Liu 11 seconds back. 

“I’m really happy with how it went today,” Arendz said after the race. “You never know where your fitness is for the first race of the season, especially after travel and fighting jet lag, but I was really happy with how the body reacted. I’m happy with how I felt, and shooting clean on the range, so it’s great to settle my nerves and get that first one under the belt.” 

In the women’s standing field, Canada’s Natalie Wilkie captured bronze after two misses, behind China’s Yujie Guo, who took gold, and Ukraine’s Liudmyla Liashenko, who claimed silver. Brittany Hudak finished sixth with one miss on the range. 

Mark Arendz races to gold in the 7.5km Sprint event in Vuokatti, Finland.

After a difficult summer battling injuries, Collin Cameron finished fifth in the men’s sitting field with a time of 23:49 and two misses, while Derek Zaplotinsky finished seventh with a time of 24:13, shooting a perfect 10-for-10. 

“It was hard missing the majority of last year through illness, and then again having to take time off training for three months this summer for a shoulder injury, “Cameron said. “I think I proved that, despite so much time off, I can still compete with the best in my sport. It was a great feeling to finish fifth in my first biathlon race of the year.” 

On the second day of competition, Canada finished first and second in Women’s Standing in the 12.5-kilometre individual event. Natalie Wilkie took gold with one miss on the range and a time of 38:33. Hudak secured silver, shooting a perfect 20-for-20 with a time of 38:56. China’s Yujie Guo earned bronze with a time of 39:14. 

“It’s always tricky racing in colder conditions,” Hudak said of the –18 degree conditions. “We’re coming into the range swinging our arms to try to warm our fingers up, and I think the conditions really play around with your mindset. But Para athletes do well with adversity, and tough conditions are just something you have to learn to overcome.” 

Despite another perfect 20-for-20 day on the range, Arendz finished second, just 4.5 seconds behind Ukraine’s Serhii Romaniuk, whose teammate Dmytro Sereda claimed bronze. 

Collin Cameron finished eighth with two misses, while Derek Zaplotinsky placed 11th with one miss. Ukraine’s Taras Rad and Pavlo Bal took gold and silver, while China’s Zixu Liu claimed bronze. 

Natalie Wilkie and Mark Arendz closed out the final Para biathlon race in Vuokatti with gold medals in the sprint pursuit event. Arendz delivered yet another flawless day on the range, finishing 26.4 seconds ahead of Germany’s Marco Maier, who took silver, and 42.6 seconds ahead of Ukraine’s Serhii Romaniuk, who earned bronze. 

Despite two misses, Wilkie secured gold by eight seconds, ahead of Ukraine’s Oleksandra Kononova, and 31 seconds ahead of China’s Guo Yujie. Brittany Hudak finished fifth. 

Derek Zaplotinsky finished 11th in the men’s sitting field, while Ukraine’s Taras Rad took gold with a time of 8:15. China’s Mengtao Liu and Zixu Liu claimed silver and bronze with times of 8:37 and 9:24, respectively. 

“It has been a great way to start the new season. The fabulous results reflect that the work over the off-season paid off,” said Arendz. “I’m very proud to have the shooting come together as it has. Three clean races are an awesome way to start. There were a few close calls, and I’m sure some heart flutters from the coaches, but all the paddles did go up.” 

Canada’s Para nordic team now switches over to cross-country with three more races scheduled in Vuokatti, Finland. 

“Now to transition into the cross-country races. Kicking off the season with a sprint is always interesting,” Arendz said. “There is always that small element of uncertainty before the first race of where you will stack up against the others. But I focus on the process, doing the small things correctly, and we’ll see where that leaves me after day one and into the rest of the cross-country season.” 

Canada results summary   

Full Results: https://live.ultimate.dk/uploads/2024/biathlon/paravuokatti/ 

[Calgary, Alta/Ottawa, Ont] — Nordiq Canada and Cycling Canada are joining forces to secure new partnerships that will support athletes and programs across the nation. It’s a bold initiative that highlights both organizations’ commitment to innovative solutions for funding.

“By joining forces, we can offer partners year-round exposure through a variety of disciplines, events and programs” explains acting Cycling Canada CEO Mathieu Boucher. “This is an opportunity that few NSOs can do on their own.”.

The joint proposal is broken into three main areas: grassroots, high performance, and events support, giving potential partners the ability to pick and choose areas they align with best. With a combined 110,000 members and millions more reached through social and mainstream media coverage, the goal is to make any partner synonymous with the two sports, all year long.

“It is no secret that the Canadian Sport System is struggling to keep up with rising costs and increased demands,” said Interim Nordiq Canada CEO Megan Begley.

“We have to find new ways to deliver the resources needed to get all Canadians into sport, and to support athletes representing Canada on the world stage.

When the conversation started with Cycling Canada, it only made sense to work together toward the same goal.”

This past March the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee called for an additional $104M in annual federal sport funding to national sport organizations. While the Government of Canada increased certain areas of sport funding, organizations still face an $88M gap.

“There is no doubt that all NSOs have had to adapt to bridge the funding gap, but this challenge has also sparked innovation,” said acting Cycling Canada CEO Mathieu Boucher. “These situations make us reassess what our future system looks like, and force us to find solutions rather than dwell on our limitations. Our goal is simple: to inspire Canadians to cycle, and we believe this unprecedented collaboration will help bolster our capacity to do just-that.”

Skiing and cycling have more crossover then most would expect.

“Many of our top athletes not only use cycling as cross-training in the off-season but compete in both sports at the highest international level, especially as juniors.  Cyclists also use cross-country skiing in their training” states Nordiq Canada High-Performance Director Chris Jeffries.

Athletes Pierre Harvey and Jenn Jackson are great examples. Between 1976 and 1988 Harvey represented Canada at four Olympic Games in cycling and cross-country skiing. Jackson represented Canada as a cross-country skier at the 2017 U23 World Championships before switching to mountain biking to win Gold at the 2023 Pan American Games.

“It’s common to see families ride together in the summer, and cross-country ski together in the winter. My family is one of them” laughs Jefferies, who has two children ages nine and seven in cycling and cross-country skiing programs.

“It’s an exciting project that is new for both NSOs” explains Begley. “We’re optimistic about finding new partners who share our vision of more Canadians on skis, bikes, and podiums.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Krista Robinson 

Philanthropy Coordinator  

Nordiq Canada  

E: krobinson@nordiqcanada.ca

Josh Peacock

Director Marketing and Events

Cycling Canada

E: josh.peacock@cyclingcanada.ca

Nordiq Canada is the governing body of Para nordic and cross-country skiing in Canada, which is the nation’s optimal sport and recreational activity with more than one million Canadians participating annually. Its 77,000 members include athletes, coaches, officials and skiers of all ages and abilities. With the support of its valued corporate partners along with the Government of Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee, and Own the Podium, Nordiq Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic and world champions. For more information on Nordiq Canada, visit https://nordiqcanada.ca

About Cycling Canada

Cycling Canada is one of the oldest national sport
organizations in Canada and has one simple purpose: to inspire Canadians to cycle. Cycling Canada administers programs to promote and grow cycling across the country, hosts national and international events and manages the National Team in all levels of international competition.

Full Team, Para Biathlon World Championships:

Mark Arendz – Hartsville, P.E.I.

Brittany Hudak – Prince Albert, Sask.

Derek Zaplotinsky – Smoky Lake, Alta.

Natalie Wilkie – Salomon Arm, B.C.

Collin Cameron – Bracebridge, Ont.

The veteran team is no stranger to success. With a combined 27 Paralympic medals between them, they have proven to deliver at high stakes events. This season the team has already seen success, bringing home 14 medals from the first two World Cup events, including three consecutive golds from Mark Arendz, dominating the Para-Biathlon races.

“Going into the World Championships after a very successful start to the World Cup season means I can draw a lot of confidence from those earlier races,” said Arendz. “I know my baseline and can climb from there. I understand I’m the target, but I can use that to challenge myself to set the performance bar even higher.”

“The team is coming off a great World Cup tour in Italy and is excited to return to Prince George and Caledonia Nordic to cap off the season in the pursuit of World Cup titles, podiums and personal best performances for Canada. We expect exciting and competitive races and look forward to welcoming the world back to Canada,” said Kate Boyd, High Performance Director for the Para nordic team.

Prince George is no stranger to the excitement and prestige of international Para sports competitions, having hosted the 2019 Para Nordic World Championships. The city’s passionate support and world-class facilities provide an ideal backdrop for athletes to showcase their talent and determination.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to represent Canada on home soil at a World Championships,” said Mark Arendz. “I’m fortunate this will be my second time. There are many lessons from 2019 and my first Worlds at home that I now take into these World Championships, better preparing me for a successful Worlds. This is the first time we will have a Biathlon-only World Championship; doing that in Canada is special.”

Following the Para Biathlon World Championships, the Para Nordic World Cup Finals will start March 13-17 with an additional seven Canadian athletes joining the team.

Full Team, Para Nordic World Cup Finals:

Mark Arendz – Hartsville, P.E.I.

Brittany Hudak – Prince Albert, Sask.

Derek Zaplotinsky – Smoky Lake, Alta.

Natalie Wilkie – Salmon Arm, B.C.

Collin Cameron – Bracebridge, Ont.

Emma Archibald – Fall River, N.S.

Ethan Hess – Pemberton, B.C.

Christina Picton – Fonthill, Ont.

Lyne-Marie Bilodeau – Sherbrooke, Que.

Jesse Bachinsky – Kenora, Ont.

Levi Nadlersmith (Guide) – Boissevain, Man.

Leo Sammarelli – Vancouver B.C.

The Local Organizing Committee extends a warm invitation to the public to come and witness these incredible athletes in action. Competitions take place at the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club and are free to the public. This is a unique opportunity to see the world’s best Para biathletes and Para Nordic skiers compete, demonstrating not only their remarkable athletic abilities but also the powerful spirit of resilience and determination that defines Para sports.

Event Schedule: https://caledoniacompetitions.com/teams/team-schedule/

Planica, SLO— It’s raining gold for Canadian cross-country skiers who finished the 2024 FIS Nordic U23 World Ski Championships with a gold medal victory in the mixed team relay. Under heavy rain, Canada’s Derek Deuling (Whitehorse, YT.), Jasmine Drolet (Rossland, B.C.), Max Hollman (Thunder Bay, Ont.) and Liliane Gagnon (Quebec City, Que.) battled with the powerhouse favorites, to grab the gold in Canada’s second upset victory of the Championships.  

Derek Deuling kicked off the race in the first of two classic discipline laps. “I was nervous taking the first leg, I really didn’t want to let my teammates down, but as soon as the race started, I felt confident, and really strong,” said Deuling.  

Deuling held to the lead group, passing off to Drolet in fifth place. Drolet pushed to hold the team’s position as the race leaders pushed the pace creating a 15 second lead over the Canadian team. Hollmann fired off the third leg with a strong skate. “I figured I gotta close this gap or explode trying,” explained Hollmann. Close the gap is exactly what he did, handing off to teammate Gagnon 2.2 seconds behind the leader.  

Gagnon held the Team’s fifth place position until the last kilometre of the race, despite breaking a pole going into the second lap. Emulating teammate Sonjaa Schmidt’s gold medal move in the women’s sprint race, Gagnon dug deep to free-skate past the leaders in the final 150 meters to take the win. 

“I’ve been wanting one of these for a while,” Gagnon said, speaking to the buildup to this result. 

CEO Stephane Barrette also recognizes what two gold medals in a major international competition means for Canada.  

“This is a demonstration of our High Performance program progress and proof that there are no limits to what Canada can achieve when we believe in ourselves and work together to achieve our goals. It is recognition of the staff and volunteers across the country whose contributions to supporting the athletes over the years allowed this result to happen.” 

Successes have been coming fast and furious for Canadian skiers this season. Adding to Canada’s first ever U23 women’s medal earlier this week, the long-dominant Para Nordic National Ski Team returns home from World Cup racing with 14 medals, including three back-to-back golds for veteran Mark Arendz. Canada also had its best-ever Youth Olympic Games performances in cross country skiing just two weeks prior.  

At the national hub in Canmore AB, where the nation is hosting World Cup racing, Antoine Cyr entered in 18th place in international standings. Coming into the Canmore races, Cyr was asked if Canada is peaking. “Definitely not,” he said. “This is just the beginning.” Olympic Champion Beckie Scott agrees, saying: “I think the Canadian program is doing very well. It is on its way again.” 

When asked what this means for the future of cross-country skiing on the international stage, Barrette says, “Canada is coming. Look out.”  

Complete Results 

After a two-year hiatus from classic racing, veteran Mark Arendz (Hartsville, PEI) kicked things off winning Gold in the 10 km classic race. In a dominant performance, Arendz bested the field by nearly a minute. Brittany Hudak (Prince Albert, Sask) and Derek Zaplotinsky (Smokey Lake, Alta) picked up Silver and Bronze on the first day of racing.

Para Nordic World Cup 2024 | Val Martello Photo: Josef Plaickner

The medals continued for Arendz, Hudak and Zaplotinsky and teammate Natalie Wilkie who together added five more medals to Canada’s haul. With a heavy schedule of classic skiing to begin the World Cup, the Canadians benefited from exceptional skis and wax against the field.

Emma Archibald (Fall River, NS) had breakout performances at her first World Cup races. Focusing on the cross-country events, Archibald raced to 5th, 6th, and 7th place finishes. Ethan Hess (Pemberton, B.C.) and Lyne-Marie Bilodeau (Orford, Que) both had career-best performances, with Bilodeau making her first semi-final appearances in the sprint races.

At the end of the tour, Canada shifted focus to biathlon races. Arendz once again proved he was the one to beat, taking Gold in all three events, including the Biathlon Sprint Pursuit, a new format on the Paralympic Winter Games schedule for 2026. Hudak added a Gold and Bronze to her haul, while Wilkie added a Bronze.

Christina Picton (Fonthill, Ont) paced a strong, consistent race and was knocking on the podium door in the final day of racing, as Derek Zaplotinsky finished 6th against the world’s best.

Canada returns home to Canmore, Alta to prepare for the FIS Para Nordic World Biathlon Championships in Prince George, B.C. in March.

In a surprise upset, the 21-year-old skier from Whitehorse, Yukon came from the back of the pack in the final heat to secure the top spot on the podium.

After qualifying in 29^th position, Schmidt would cruise through the quarters, and semifinal heats to secure her spot in the finals. With six athletes fighting for the top three spots, Schmidt made her move in the final straight, taking the outside line in a free skate to blow by the leaders in the final 120 meters, crossing the line with a triumphant fist in the air.  The historic victory is the first gold medal for Canada in a U23 Nordic World Ski Championship women’s event.

” My main goal for today was to just qualify for the heats,” said Schmidt. “Once I got into the heats, I was just focused on staying calm and relaxed and race my hardest”.

Schmidt has been a dominant force in Canadian domestic racing this season. She made her World Cup debut in January with races in Oberhof, Germany and Goms, Switzerland before heading into the U23 World Championships. Following the Championship races, Schmidt will be heading to compete in the FIS World Cup races in Minneapolis, USA.

“It was such an amazing day, it hasn’t really hit me yet,” said Schmidt. “It was also so great to see all my teammates do so well, I think today was a huge step for Canadian Cross Country Skiing, and I hope that this result inspires the next generation of skiers”.

Sonjaa Schmidt crosses the finish line in Planica SLO. Photo: Graeme Williams

“Our goal was to qualify an athlete for the semifinals today,” said Eric De Nys, Nordiq Canada’s Next Gen Coach. “When we saw her win her semifinal, we knew today was going to be special.”

“It was unbelievable. We had athletes and staff gathered near the finish, and when she crossed the line, it was pure joy. We couldn’t have been prouder to be Canadian.” said De Nys.

The young Canadian team of cross-country skiers will continue their push for medals at the Championship event in the upcoming 10 km interval start and 20 km mass start events.  The Championship event continues until February 9, 2024.

Sonjaa Schmidt celebrates her U23 World Championships title in Planica SLO. Photo: Borut Živulović/BOBO

Canada’s Lilliane Gagnon (Quebec City, Que.) finished in 8th in today’s race with a time of 2:37.92. Teammates Jasmine Drolet (Rossland, B.C.) and Amelia Wells (Saanich, B.C.) were 33rd and 36th in the qualifiers.

Finland’s Hilla Niemela took silver with a time of 2:36.30 And Norway’s Maria Hartz Melling took bronze with 2:36.38.

Complete Results

In the Men’s race, Norway’s Aleksander Elde Holmboe and Matz William Jenssen took gold and silver with times of 2:15.78 and 2:15.92 with American John Steel Hagenbuch taking bronze in 2:16.49.

Canada’s Derek Deuling (Whitehorse, Yukon) was the lone Canadian in the quarterfinals, finishing in 24th with a time of 2:17.99. Teammates Luke Allan (Ottawa, Ont.) and Sasha Masson (Whitehorse, Yukon) were 31st and 34th.

Complete Results