Nordiq Canada Appoints Chris Manhard as Development Coach

Nordiq Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Manhard as Development Coach.

A respected Canadian coach with more than 20 years of experience in athlete and coach development, Manhard joins Nordiq Canada after leading one of the country’s most successful provincial high-performance programs. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for developing athletes, strengthening coaching systems, and creating environments where emerging athletes can thrive.

As Development Coach, Manhard will lead and oversee Nordiq Canada’s Development Team program. The Development Team supports identified athletes who have demonstrated strong potential to transition from junior racing to international excellence. Working closely with athletes, personal coaches, divisions, and integrated support staff, Manhard will lead and deliver a nationally aligned program that prepares Canada’s next generation of high-performance cross-country skiers.

Manhard joins Nordiq Canada from Cross Country BC, where he served as Provincial Coach for more than a decade. In that role, he provided technical leadership for coaches, managed provincial team programs, led domestic and international competitions, and oversaw the implementation of British Columbia’s performance enhancement system. Under his leadership, the province achieved its most successful results in history at the Canada Winter Games and the Canadian National Championships.

His contributions to Canada’s development pathway extend beyond provincial programming. Manhard helped establish and develop the Callaghan Valley Training Centre, which served as a National Development Centre, and has led Canadian teams at multiple World Junior Championships. He has also served as Head Coach and Team Manager for British Columbia at five Canada Winter Games, helping guide generations of athletes through critical stages of their development.

Committed to continuous learning, Manhard combines extensive practical coaching experience with advanced education in high-performance sport. He holds a Master of Science in Kinesiology with a specialization in High Performance Coaching and Technical Leadership from the University of British Columbia, an Advanced Coaching Diploma from the National Coaching Institute, and is a Certified Competition Development Advanced Gradation (Train to Compete) coach and Competition Development Coach Developer.

Throughout his career, Manhard has been recognized for his collaborative leadership, passion for athlete development, and commitment to supporting coaches at every level of the performance pathway.

“I’m honoured to join Nordiq Canada as Development Coach and to work alongside the athletes, coaches, and staff who are shaping the future of Canadian cross-country skiing,” said Manhard. “Throughout my career, I’ve been passionate about building strong development environments that help high-performance athletes reach their full potential while supporting the coaches who guide them every day. I’m excited to help lead a program that prepares the next generation of Canadian athletes for success on the international stage and to continue strengthening our development pathways across the country.”

“Chris has dedicated his coaching career to developing Canadian athletes and coaches, and his track record speaks for itself,” said Beckie Scott, CEO of Nordiq Canada. “His leadership of one of Canada’s most successful provincial development programs, his commitment to coach education, and his ability to build environments where athletes can succeed make him an outstanding addition to our high-performance team. We are excited to welcome Chris to Nordiq Canada and look forward to the impact he will have on the next generation of Canadian cross-country skiers.”

Manhard will begin his role as Development Coach on September 1st.