More than 750 skiers expected on the start line of the 2024 Nordiq Canada Ski Nationals
Nordiq Canada’s 2024 Canadian Championships will be held March 10-16 at the Nakkertok Nordic Ski Centre in Gatineau
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 followedby 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 anduniversity categories• Thursday 14 March, 8:30: Qualifying Team Sprints – Free techniquefollowed by the finals (U16, U18, U20, senior, college and universitycategories)• 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 . 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
819-593-1159 Pierre Millette 343-541-8162
English-language media: Anton Scheier 613-601-8257
Official event website: https://championnatsdeski2024.ca/