More than 800 senior, junior and Para nordic skiers will compete in sprints, distance races and team events on the famous trails, which hosted a FIS Cross Country and IBU Biathlon World Cup this past season. 

“The Canmore Nordic Ski Club, with support from the Town of Canmore, Tourism Canmore Kananaskis, Alberta Tourism and Sport, and Alberta Parks and Recreation, is thrilled to be chosen as the host for the 2025 Nordiq Canada Ski Nationals,” said Hugh Simson, Event Chair. “We are excited to invite Canada’s cross-country ski racing youth, rising stars, elite athletes, and future Olympians and Paralympians to participate in this week-long National competition in one of the world’s most beautiful cross country skiing destinations. A return to Canmore in 2025 will provide this country’s cross country skiers a chance to celebrate the best of our sport and what we hope will contribute to a life-long passion for our sport.”

Nordiq Canada Ski Nationals provides an event for athletes, coaches, wax techs, and officials to come together as a community in a developmentally appropriate manner. 

“Canmore is no stranger to hosting high-caliber events. On the heels of hosting a successful World Cup event, we are thrilled to welcome the entire ski community to Canmore next March” said Ilona Gyapay, Events and Officials Manager at Nordiq Canada. “We look forward to working with the Canmore Nordic Ski Club, officials and volunteers in staging this prestigious event and showcasing the Olympic legacy venue.”

More information on the event will be made available at the end of April on the Events tab of https://www.canmorenordic.com/

Nordiq Canada continues to work with our stakeholders to finalize event dates. 

“When people get on skis, any skis, for the first time,’’ says the two-time Canadian Olympian, “there’s always that moment of apprehension – they’re really focused, so dialed-in, paying extra special attention.

“But then – as always – after a while, there’s this spark, as if a light goes on for them, and they really get it. We all have experienced that, at some place, at some time.

“You’ll see the biggest smiles on faces. Cold, -18, maybe the coldest day they’ve ever been outside in their lives, and they are loving it.

“Those moments are universal, across ages, backgrounds, when you find yourself gliding, actually doing it.

“I started skiing when I was about two years old. And being a part of this – a totally unique experience – does take me back to those feelings I had when I was 5, 6, 7 years old. No aspirations of racing, of personal goals, of competing at an Olympics.

“Just the love of skiing. That is really cool to see.

As coordinator of the Ski Playground initiative, a four-sport partnership between Nordiq Canada, Biathlon Canada, Ski Jumping Canada and Nordic Combined Canada, Cockney has gotten the chance to see those moments firsthand again.

Jesse Cockney helps participants at the Wastowea Nordic Ski Playground event. Photo: Paul Jordan

The format is unique: All four ski disciplines in one setting, designed to introduce one or all of them to people of varying backgrounds and especially people who are Black, Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQi+, low income, newcomers and persons with disabilities.

It’s a one-stop ski-experience for mostly first-time skiers and oftentimes under-served Canadians. Over $290,000 in funding, received through Sport Canada’s Community Sport for All Initiative, was used to develop the Ski Playground program, market it, purchase equipment and run five demonstration events in partnership with clubs. All in hopes that clubs across the country will create low-cost ski playgrounds of their own, using shovels and other common supplies.

“There’s not a lot better than seeing kids drawn to the biathlon range,’’ laughs Cockney. “It’s fun, we have (laser gun) lights set up so they go green or red and they get really excited about that.

“Being outside, experiencing a new sport with other kids, good sport-for-life endeavours.

“What could be better?”

Ski Playground’s five-province tour began on Feb. 18th at the Nickel Plate Nordic Centre in Penticton, B.C., then all the way cross-country to the Wostawea Cross Country Ski Club in Fredericton, N.B., west to Strathcona Wilderness Centre in Uncas, Alta., then to Langham, Sask. and River Ridge Nordic , and, finally, to Cockney’s hometown, Yellowknife, NT and the Yellowknife Ski Club.

“The experience we had here,’’ summarizes Wostawea club president Nathalie Comeau, “was wonderful.”

The morning activities in Fredericton on Feb. 24th focused on jackrabbit and regular adult learners, keen to try new things. In the afternoon session, those who’d never skied before joined the participation party.

A pleasant sidelight, adds Comeau, was the sight of former jackrabbit cross country skiers who hadn’t visited the club in quite a while returning specifically to give biathlon and ski jumping a whirl.

“I think people were more ready to try the biathlon laser rifles, because they’ve been to arcades or laser tag,’’ says Comeau. “Ski jumping is a bigger challenge for people, but I was pleasantly surprised to see both kids and adults try it.

“And some kids … they actually got air. They were really good. But if they tried and didn’t get it right the first time, or the second, they’d run right back up the hill and say ‘I’m going again!’ And did, until they landed on their feet.

“When you think of ski jumping in New Brunswick, you don’t think you’ll ever get the chance. You see it at the Olympics. You know there were ski jumps out west. But that’s about it. So, to have this here, to have a go with the skis, the helmet, everything, was unusual and so much fun, so exciting. I’m sure people thought: ‘I’d better try this. When am I going to get another chance?’”

An opportunity both Carolyn MacDonald, in her first year as a volunteer at Wostawea, and six-year-old son William, both avid cross-country skiers, wholly embraced.

“Ski jump!” enthuses William, when asked which of the four sports he enjoyed most on the day.

And why?

“Because it was fun and mommy was scared of it.

“I was fine. I tried about 20 times. I landed on my skis, then lost my balance and I fell over on my side or my back. And once I went over the jump, went through the air, and landed in a snowbank!”

The concept of incorporating the four types of skiing together impressed Carolyn MacDonald.

Photo: Paul Jordan

“I think it’s a great idea,’’ she says, “especially in a place like here in Fredericton, where our terrain is ideally suited for cross-country skiing but people don’t have an opportunity to really get involved with the other kinds of skiing – we do have a downhill spot near the city but compared to, say, out west, it’s very different.

“To be able to try ski jump … the slopes were very small, the bumps were very gentle but that’s something that in my life I never thought I’d try. I don’t know if I’d have ever had the chance, if they hadn’t brought the appropriate helmets and skis and built the beginning jumps for us to give it a go on.

“If they want to get people involved in all aspects of skiing, I think this is a great way to do it.

“I hope they bring it back again.”

That, of course, is music to the ears of Cockney who acknowledges that the initiative involved a lot of work and travel packed into a tight time frame.

“When I first heard of this program in general,’’ he admits ruefully, “my thought was: ‘Wow that sounds like a big job …’ As I get to the end of it here – I’ve got one more event next week in Yellowknife – it has been big – in the inertia, in getting it moving and on the radar of clubs earlier in the year, physically loading up 13 bags of Salomon skis and all the supporting equipment that goes along with that. Even driving it to communities with a rented pick-up truck or flying across three time zones in our massive country.

“I really didn’t know anything about biathlon, ski jumping, or nordic combined. For me, filling in these gaps to bring quality programming has been so well supported by the national sport bodies – I can’t hammer that home enough.

“But the whole thing, I’ll admit, was a little daunting. ‘I’m going to be bringing how many pairs of skis to how many clubs across the county, in how many weeks?’ Before I even set out, my head was already spinning.”

The personal benefits though, have made his effort more than worthwhile: Visiting new communities across the country, seeing clubs he’d never even heard of, talking skiing, and gaining fresh perspectives.

“One thing that stood out to me right from the start,’’ says Cockney, he himself of Inuvialuit heritage, “was reaching certain populations and having that be the main target. Whether it’s Indigenous communities, LGBTQ or any of our equity-deserving populations that we’ve reached through these events, and just knowing that skiing can really be for everyone. It’s not just about your ability, your age, where you come from or your familiarity. Just fun events that take in such a broad engagement … whatever you want from any of these four sports, it’s there. Sport for life activities.

“Opening opportunities to different people across the country has been really fun.

“Another cool thing, believe it or not, has been the challenges presented by this winter. Conditions have been pretty similar across the country – low snow, spotty weather, rain in January … just really tough, ski-wise. I’ve been to B.C., New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Alberta chatting with people in Ontario and Quebec, and to see the resourcefulness and the work volunteers are doing on the ground, to keep conditions good enough to get people out and skiing. Incredible.

“To see the enthusiasm of these people working with what they’ve got has been awesome.”

And the opportunity to return, on the final leg of his journey, to the place where his dad, Angus Cockney, a national team cross-country skier in his day, had introduced him to a sport that he quickly came to embrace, then cherish.

“I’ve been back over the years, but I haven’t had a chance to ski in Yellowknife since 1996, the year my family moved to Canmore, Alta.,’’ Cockney muses.

“My first steps on skis were at this ski club, in 1991 or 1992. A long time ago. I’ve got friends from Yellowknife who still live there, they’ve got young families that I haven’t had a chance to meet … time just flies, right?

“This is the community where I learned to ski so many years ago. So this is going to be really special.

“I’m just so lucky to have this sport in my life.”

And moving forward, he hopes all Canadians will feel the same, thanks, in part, to the Ski Playground.

Dave Rees Award 
Awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding long-term commitment to cross country skiing in Canada.

Firth Award 
Awarded to a woman who has made an outstanding contribution to cross country skiing in Canada.

Distinguished Volunteer Award 
Awarded to individuals who have made a significant contribution to cross country skiing.

Nominations are due May 2. 

Nomination Form

Awards will be presented at this year’s AGM June 6-9 in Whitehorse, YT.
Questions?  Contact Krista at krobinson@nordiqcanada.ca

The 4^th place result is a personal best for Cyr and the best Canadian World Cup result since the retirement of skiing great and mentor Alex Harvey. 

“This was my personal best on World Cup. I’m delighted with this one. It feels so good to be in the final and playing with the best in the world,” said Cyr. 

The 25-year-old from Gatineau, Quebec placed 11^th in the qualifier situating him solidly in the quarter final heats. In the fastest quarter final heat of the day, Cyr beat out American James Schoonmaker in a tie-breaking finish to grab the second-place spot. Advancing to the semi-finals, Cyr finished 3^rd, in what again would be the fastest of the day, nabbing a lucky loser spot into the sprint final of six. In the final heat, Cyr kept behind the leaders; then, in a double-pole sprint to the finish, he nabbed fourth place from French skier Richard Jouve.   

Cyr’s fourth-place finish comes after placing 20^th in the 50 km classic race two days ago in Oslo, Norway. Cyr will finish the season with upcoming races in Falun, Sweden.  

Three other Canadians raced in Drammen today: Pierre Grall-Johnson, of Ottawa, Ont., finished 45^th, Xavier McKeever, of Canmore, Alta., was 46^th, and Sasha Masson, of Whitehorse, YT was 58^th.  

Complete results

Johannes Klaebo finished first in 2:35:89, Haavard Taugboel finished in second 1.09 behind, and Even Northug in third 1.32 behind. 

ENGNE Release: Gatineau, Quebec – March 4, 2024 – More than 750 skiers from across Canada are expected to take part in the event, which will be held from March 10 to 16 at the Nakkertok Nordic Ski Centre on the outskirts of Gatineau. After hosting the same event in 2019, the Outaouais region will be hosting for the 12th time the event that was first held on Mount Royal in Montreal in 1921.

The 96th edition of the event will crown the national champions in the junior and senior age categories. Competitors from universities and colleges will also be taking part, as will Paranordic skiers. Over 770 athletes, from 87 clubs, from 11 provinces/territories with some international racers will attend.

While the top two local athletes, Antoine Cyr and Katherine Stewart-Jones will be away at the World Cup, the “next generation” of local athletes including Candy Cane Cup winners Luke Allan and Clara Hegan as well as Tory Audet and Mats Halvorsen, of Chelsea will be competing for over $25,000 of prize money!

Mother Nature has thrown us challenges in the weather department, but the Nakkertok snowmaking system and the shovelling efforts of countless volunteers should ensure good trail conditions for the event. It also helps that 3-time Olympic snow groomer, Dirk Van Wijk is part of the trails team.

Athletes from the University of Ottawa help shovel snow onto the course. Video Credit @uottawanordiq

Admission to the races is free for spectators. John Halvorsen, Co-Chairman of the event, invites the public not to miss this event: The Outaouais region is one of the best cross-country ski destinations in Canada, and ENGNE, in partnership with “the City of Gatineau and Tourisme Outaouais, has established itself as a world-class host organisation capable of producing Canada Cups and World Cup level competitions. This year, Nordiq Canada’s 2024 Canadian Championships will bring more than 750 of Canada’s top talents to Gatineau to showcase the region and the growing strength of Canadian skiing.  We are very excited and hope that the entire region will come out to cheer and enjoy the end of the season.

The media are invited to come and meet athletes and event co-chairs Mr. Halvorsen and Pierre Millette, during a media availability at the competition site on Saturday, March 9th, starting at 10 a.m. The site is located at 900 avenue Gatineau, with access from the corner of chemin Taché.

Schedule of events:
•       Sunday 10 March, 9:00: Interval starts – Free technique
•       Monday 11 March, 9:00: Classical technique sprint qualifiers followed
by elimination heats (U16, U18 and Para-nordic categories)
•       Tuesday 12 March, 9:00: Qualifying sprints, classical technique,
followed by elimination heats (U20, senior, Para-nordic, college and
university categories
•       Thursday 14 March, 8:30: Qualifying Team Sprints – Free technique
followed by the finals (U16, U18, U20, senior, college and university
categories)
•       Friday 15 March, 9:00: Group starts Classic Technique (U16, U18)
•       Saturday 16 March, 9:00: Group starts Classic Technique (U20, senior,
college and university)

                                                   

Information:
Media attending the event should inform the communications team of their expected arrival time by email at media@engne.ca.  Please send a text message upon arrival to 613-601-8257 so that we can meet you, help you find your way around and give you privileged access to the event. Some parking spaces will be reserved for the media, and we will have an area reserved for media use, the Ville de Gatineau trailer, in the stadium. This includes for the media availability on March 9th.

For more information, please contact:

French-language media: Marie-Pier Pelletier-Millette media@engne.ca

819-593-1159 Pierre Millette info@engne.ca 343-541-8162

English-language media:  Anton Scheier media@engne.ca 613-601-8257

Official event website: https://championnatsdeski2024.ca/

Learn More

Photo: Paul Jordan

Nordiq Canada has two Athlete Director positions, with the requirement of gender equity between the two. The current male Athlete Director is Julian Smith. Julian was elected in 2023. This election will elect a female Athlete Director. The current female Athlete Director is Katie Weaver.

Candidates representing all athletes – Olympic stream and Para-Nordic stream – are desired.

Learn More

Interested candidates must complete the following:

• Send an email to Brennan Craig (Nordiq Canada Board Member) at queencitycraigs@gmail.com by 11:59 pm PT on March 11, 2024 to notify Nordiq Canada that you intend to run for the position.
• Submit a short written “Pitch” that will be posted for athletes to read before voting. Your written pitch must be submitted to Brennan Craig at queencitycraigs@gmail.com by 11:59 pm PT on March 11, 2024, and include the following:
  • General Information: Your Name, Age, Club/Team, Province or Territory
  • A statement (1000 words max) about relevant skills/experience you bring to the table and why you think you are the right athlete for the position.

The Canadian team is a mix of seasoned World Cup veterans and promising young talents making their international debut. 

“It’s going to be an exciting week for our National Ski Team program and for our Canadian athletes. It’s an opportunity to showcase Canada to the nordic world and the unrivaled beauty of Canmore” said Chris Jeffries, High Performance Director of the Olympic cross-country ski program. 

“For some members of our team, this is a chance to fight for the podium. For others, this will be their first World Cup start and a significant step in their development pathway. The focus continues to be on refining individual processes, finding new opportunities to learn and grow, and most importantly, representing our community through our core values and behaviours as a team.”

Katherine Stewart-Jones races in Canmore, AB. Photo: Nordiq Canada/Nathaniel Mah

Veterans Katherine Stewart-Jones from Chelsea, Quebec, and Antoine Cyr from Gatineau, Quebec, will spearhead the team. With top-10 and top-20 World Cup finishes this season, they are strong contenders at this event. 

“I am really excited to be racing on my home courses. My family is making the trip so it will be cool to have them cheering and supporting me,” said Stewart-Jones. “I am also looking forward to racing this venue at the World Cup level, it’s been a long time since my last World Cup here, and I am a very different athlete than I was eight years ago!”

Stewart-Jones is based in Canmore,  and trains with the Alpine Insurance Alberta World Cup Academy. After three months on the road, waking up in her own bed to compete in a World Cup will be a rare and welcomed experience.

“My goal is to take advantage of the extra preparation I have here, embrace the energy of the hometown crowd, and have fun skiing as hard as I can.” 

“After two top tens this season things are looking really good,” said Antoine Cyr, a member of Canada’s National Ski Team. “I would like to land another top ten in Canmore, and hope to be fighting for the podium.”

With a career-best fourth-place finish last season, Cyr has been knocking at the door of the World Cup podium. He will head to Canmore looking for a boost from the home crowd to capture Canada’s first World Cup podium since 2019. 

06.01.2023, Val di Fiemme, Italy (ITA):
Antoine Cyr (CAN) – FIS world cup cross-country, tour de ski, individual sprint, Val di Fiemme (ITA). www.nordicfocus.com. © Modica/NordicFocus.

“I’ve been going to Canmore since I first started competing on the Canadian circuit, I know the courses well, and when you combine that with the altitude it gives us a huge advantage. Im really looking forward to racing in front of friends and Canadian ski fans.”

Rounding out the team is: 

Women

Katherine Stewart-Jones – Chelsea, Que.

Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt – Morin-Heights, Que.

Katherine Weaver – North Vancouver, B.C.

Anna Parent – Canmore, Alta.

Marlie Molinaro – Whistler, B.C.

Élie-Anne Tremblay – Lévis, Que. 

Marielle Ackermann – Kimberley, B.C.

Anna Stewart – Thunder Bay, Ont.

Maeve MacLeod – Revelstoke, B.C.

Katya Semeniuk – Ottawa, Ont.

Men 

Antoine Cyr – Gatineau, Que.

Julien Locke – Nelson, B.C.

Olivier Léveillé – Sherbrooke, Que.

Xavier Mckeever – Canmore, Alta.

Léo Grandbois – Sherbrooke, Que.

Pierre Grall-Johnson – Ottawa, Ont.

Julian Smith – Georgian Bluffs, Ont.

Erikson Moore – Mont-Tremblant, Que.

Ry Prior – Chelsea, Que.

Félix-Olivier Moreau – Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que.

Xavier Lefebvre – Longueuil, Que.

Samuel Hendry – Canmore, Alta.

Scott Hill – Parry Sound, Ont.

Rémi Drolet – Rossland, B.C.

Micah Steinberg – Calgary, Alta. 

Eamon Wilson – Burnaby, B.C.

The Canadians will face strong competition at the world-renowned Canmore Nordic Centre.  More than 190 athletes from 19 different countries will race over four thrilling days at the Canmore Nordic Centre.  This is a rare opportunity for ski fans to see the stars of the sport in Canada, and show their support for the local ski community. Transit and tickets are free for the event, and VIP event tickets are still available for purchase on the Alberta World Cup Society website.

Canmore will greet the world with a festival of events. Spectators can experience a series of activities, including art walks, a nordic market, spectator zones, and the COOP mini World Cup. Ski fans can plan the perfect weekend at www.albertaworldcup.com.

“We are thrilled to once again welcome the world’s best cross-country skiers to Canmore,” said Alberta World Cup Society’s Vice-President and Events Chair Norbert Meier.  “Together, we have created an exciting event at the Canmore Nordic Centre, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.”

Schedule: 

(Subject to change)

Tickets: 

General admission is free, however for those interested in the best seat in the house, VIP tickets are still available for purchase at www.albertaworldcup.com

Broadcast:

Canadians unable to attend in person can watch live on CBC Gem, with behind-the-scenes content on Nordiq Canada, and the Alberta World Cup social platforms.

Media Contacts:

Nathaniel Mah , Marketing and Engagement Coordinator 

Nordiq Canada 

C: 403-700-4927 

E: nmah@nordiqcanada.ca

Justin Brisbane, Media Manager 

COOP FIS Cross-Country World Cup Canmore – Canmore

E: jbrisbane@albertaworldcup.com

Get your ideas ready!

Here is the template for your design

The criteria for entering in the contest is as follows:

• Contestants must be currently enrolled in a Nordiq Canada Jackrabbit or Bunnyrabbit program
• Contestants must be between the ages of 5-9
• Artwork must be of original work

Selection process and timelines:

• Designs should be submitted to Julie Beaulieu (jbeaulieu@nordiqcanada.ca) by noon, MST on February 18, 2024.
• Nordiq Canada will select 10 final designs and voting will occur via Survey Monkey. The voting period will run from February 20 – 24 2024 until noon (MST). Please remember that only Nordiq Canada members are eligible to vote!
• Announcement of the ‘winning’ toque design will be posted on Nordiq Canada’s Facebook page and website.

Learn More