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)

NST Selection Rationale & Synopsis

AAP Selection Rationale & Synopsis

Summary of National Ski Team Nominations:

This timeline allows for the completion of the review process with Sport Canada, ensuring all selections meet required standards and criteria.

We look forward to sharing the finalized selections soon.

Click above to view the Selection Rationale

Congratulations to the following athletes who have been selected to the World Cup Period Four (4) Lake Placid Team with races from March 17th – March 23rd, 2026. Athlete selections were based on the 2025-26 Nordiq Canada Competition Trip Selection Criteria.   

Competition Trip Objectives:   

• Provide appropriate competition opportunities to athletes who have demonstrated the ability to achieve a WC Top 20 performance, and to support the Nations Cup Ranking overall.  
• Provide meaningful competition pathway opportunities to developing athletes who can contribute to long-term high-performance objectives. 

Summary of Nominations 

Olivier Léveillé – Club ski de fond Orford — CNEPH

Tom Stephen – Foothills Nordic Ski Club — AWCA

Max Hollmann – Big Thunder Nordic — AWCA

Antoine Cyr – Skinouk — CNEPH

Rémi Drolet – Black Jack Ski Club — SMS T2

Xavier McKeever – Foothills Nordic Ski Club — AWCA

Luke Allan – Nakkertok Cross Country Ski Club

Sasha Masson – Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club — CNEPH

Alexandre Cormier – Club Fondeurs Laurentides — CNEPH

Luke Fricker – Canmore Nordic Ski Club

Kendyn Mashinter – Walden Cross Country — NTDC Thunder Bay

Jonas Rolseth – Canmore Nordic Ski Club — AWCA

Scott Hill – Team Hardwood

Pierre Grall-Johnson – Nakkertok Cross Country Ski Club – CNEPH

Taschi Klaschka – Sovereign Lake Nordic Club

Guillaume Pelchat – Pembroke Nordic Ski Club – CNEPH

Parker Courte-Rathwell – Club Tremblant Nordique

Julian Smith – Georgian Bay Nordic – NTDC Thunder Bay

Justin Boudreau – Club de ski de fond Monteriski, CNEPH

Katie Weaver – Hollyburn Cross-Country Ski Club — AWCA

Katherine Stewart-Jones – Nakkertok Nordic — AWCA

Sonjaa Schmidt – Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club — AWCA

Liliane Gagnon – Skibec — CNEPH

Amelia Wells – Strathcona Nordic

Alison Mackie – Edmonton Nordic Ski Club — AWCA

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

Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt – Fondeurs Laurentides — AWCA

Katya Semeniuk – Nakkertok Nordic — AWCA

Hannah Shields – XC Ottawa

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

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

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

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

Click above to view the Selection Rationale

Congratulations to the following athletes who have been selected to the World Cup Period Four (4) Europe Team with races in Falun, Lahti, Drammen, and Oslo, February 23rd  – March 15th, 2026. Athlete selections were based on the 2025-26 Nordiq Canada Competition Trip Selection Criteria.   

Competition Trip Objectives:   

• Provide appropriate competition opportunities to athletes who have demonstrated the ability to achieve a WC Top 20 performance.  
• Support the Nations Cup Ranking overall. 

Summary of Nominations 

Oliver Léveillé – Club ski de fond Orford – CNEPH

Katie Weaver – Hollyburn Cross-Country Ski Club – AWCA

Alison Mackie – Edmonton Nordic Ski Club, AWCA

Tom Stephen – Foothills Nordic Ski Club, AWCA

Xavier McKeever – Foothills Nordic Ski Club, AWCA

Antoine Cyr – Skinouk, CNEPH

Rémi Drolet – Black Jack Ski Club, SMS T2

Max Hollmann – Big Thunder Nordic, AWCA

Liliane Gagnon – Skibec, CNEPH

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

Katherine Stewart-Jones – Nakkertok Nordic, AWCA

Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt – Fondeurs-Laurentides, AWCA

Sasha Masson – Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club, CNEPH

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

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

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

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

Click above to view the Selection Rationale

Congratulations to the following athletes who have been selected 2026 FIS Nordic Junior and U23 World Ski Championships Team in Lillehammer, Norway from March 2nd to 8th 2026. Athlete selections were based on the 2025-26 Nordiq Canada Competition Trip Selection Criteria.  

Competition Trip Objectives:  

• Top 3 performances in individual and Team Events 

Summary of Nominations 

Junior Women:
Ella Fuller – Fernie Nordic Society  

Ruby Serrouya – Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club 

Louison Dubief – AWCA – Fernie Nordic Society  

Eula Palmer-Bird – Sovereign Lake Nordic Club 

Sarah-Ève Picard – CNEPH – Mont-Sainte-Anne 

Madeleine Wilkie – Larch Hills Nordic Society   

Junior Men: 

Eamon Wilson – AWCA – Hollyburn Cross-Country Ski Club

Raleigh Tarte – AWCA – Kimberley Nordic Club  

Finn Redman – AWCA – Telemark Nordic   

Zachari Moreau – Club Nordique Mont-Sainte-Anne  

Teo Wadsworth – Canmore Nordic Ski Club 

Theirry Olivier – CNEPH – Club Nordique Mont-Sainte-Anne 

U23 Women: 

Alison Mackie – AWCA – Edmonton Nordic Ski Club 

Anna Stewart – Nakkertok Cross-Country Ski Club 

Marlie Molinaro – Revelstoke Nordic ski Club 

Katya Semeniuk – AWCA – Nakkertok Cross-Country Ski Club 

U23 Men: 

Xavier McKeever – AWCA – Foothills Nordic Ski Club 

Luke Allan – Nakkertok Cross-Country Ski Club 

Ry Prior – AWCA – Club Chelsea Nordiq 

Justin Boudreau – CNEPH – Montériski 

Noah Weir Chaba – AWCA – Canmore Nordic Ski Club  

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

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

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

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

Click above to view the Selection Rationale

Congratulations to the following athletes who have met criteria for official nomination to the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) for selection approval to the Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games Team (PWGT) based on the Nordiq Canada 2026 Paralympic Winter Games Selection Criteria (Internal Nomination Procedure).

This Synopsis and Rationale is not a team announcement and is only used to rationalize the athletes who have met criteria for nomination. The official CPC team announcement for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games Team Para Nordic team is January 30th, 2026.

Team Size:
Canada has qualified a total of 12 quota spots for the Para Nordic team (Para Cross-Country and Para Biathlon) including six (6) quota spots for females, and six (6) quota spots for males. The selection of Team Canada is made by the CPC at its sole discretion. Selection is subject to the athlete’s satisfaction of all Para FIS and Para IBU eligibility requirements.

Nominations

Collin Cameron – ON
Derek Zaplotinsky – AB
Mark Arendz – PEI
Jesse Backinsky (+ guide) – ON
Logan Lariviere (+ guide) – ON
Leo Sammarelli – BC
Natalie Wilkie – BC
Madison Mullin (+ guide) – ON
Brittany Hudak – SK
Christina Picton – ON
Emma Archibald – NS
Lyne-Marie Bilodeau – QC

Alternate Nominations

Yves Bourque – QC

Athlete nominations were made by the High-Performance Manager and reviewed by the High-Performance Committee (HPC) based on the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games Selection Criteria (Internal Nomination Procedure) – Amended Nov 18, 2025. The HPC oversaw the nomination process as per the Nordiq Canada Nomination, Selection and Announcement policy. Members of this committee are:

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

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

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

Click above to view the Selection Rationale

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

P2/P3 Team 

Katherine Stewart-Jones – Nakkertok Nordic, AWCA – DECLINED

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

Liliane Gagnon – Skibec, CNEPH

Amelia Wells – Strathcona Nordics, AWCA – DECLINED

Alison Mackie – Edmonton Nordic Ski Club, AWCA

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

Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt – Fondeurs-Laurentides, AWCA

Tom Stephen – Foothills Nordic Ski Club, AWCA

Max Hollmann – Big Thunder Nordic, AWCA

Antoine Cyr – Skinouk, CNEPH

Rémi Drolet – Black Jack Ski Club, SMS T2

Xavier McKeever – Foothills Nordic Ski Club, AWCA

Graham Ritchie – Georgian Nordic, NTDC T-Bay

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

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

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

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

Click above to view the Selection Rationale

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

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

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

Nominations 

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

 Alternate Nominations

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

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

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

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

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