Supporting Stronger Youth Sport Development Pathways Across Canada

This year, Nordiq Canada undertook a consultation process and review on initiatives to strengthen retention, increase affordability, and improve the youth competitive experience and development pathway.

As part of this review, Nordiq Canada invited members of the ski community to participate in a Town Hall and a national Youth Sport Development Survey. The feedback received, alongside existing long-term athlete development principles, has helped inform the proposed updates outlined below.

The Consultation Process

March 2026 – Town Hall consultation and engagement session at Ski Nationals (Mont Sainte-Anne)
April-May 2026 – Survey distribution and results collation (online)
May 2026 – Events Committee review
June 2026 – Nordiq Canada Board of Directors review

About the Survey

The Youth Sport Development Survey was conducted in Spring 2026 and received 268 responses from across Canada.

Who Participated?

The consultation engaged individuals from a variety of roles across the sport system:
40% Parents (106 respondents)
36% Coaches (97 respondents)
11% Volunteers and Club Members (30 respondents)
7% Provincial Sport Organization Representatives (19 respondents)
6% Other Stakeholders (16 respondents)

Representation Across Canada

Participants represented communities from coast to coast to coast, including:

Survey Feedback and Proposed Actions

1. Supporting Long-Term Athlete Development

One of the clearest messages received from participants emphasized the importance of ensuring competition structures at younger ages support development before performance.

Young athletes develop at different rates, and many participants expressed support for competition environments that focus on skill development, confidence-building, participation, and enjoyment before introducing formal rankings and points systems.

Readers interested in learning more about Long-Term Athlete Development principles and age-appropriate competition environments can explore resources from Sport for Life, which has informed athlete development frameworks used across Canada.

1.1 Planned Action

Beginning in the 2026–2027 season:

• U12 and U14 athletes will no longer receive Canada Points List (CPL) rankings.
• CPL rankings will begin at the U16 level.
• U12 competitions will no longer include rankings, podiums, medals, or awards based on placement.
• Race organizers may continue to recognize participation and achievement in age-appropriate ways that encourage positive experiences for all athletes.

2. Creating Age-Appropriate Competition Pathways

Feedback highlighted the importance of ensuring athletes compete in environments that reflect their stage of physical, social, and emotional development These changes are intended to support long-term athlete development while maintaining appropriate opportunities for progression and high-performance advancement.

2.1 Planned Action

Beginning in the 2026–2027 season:

• U16 will become the minimum age category eligible to compete at the Nordiq Canada National Ski Championships.
• Limited exemptions may be considered for exceptional U14 athletes with divisional support.
• “Racing up” (the practice of competitors entering and competing in age categories older than their own) will be restricted to athletes competing in U20 and above categories, with specific exceptions available for pathways such as World Junior Trials and NCAA eligibility requirements.

3. Improving Accessibility and Competitive Equity

Accessibility, affordability, and fairness were recurring themes throughout the survey review process.

Many participants expressed support for initiatives that reduce financial barriers and create more equitable competition environments for young athletes and families. The responses received also highlighted interest in approaches that place greater emphasis on athlete performance while reducing the influence of equipment-related advantages.

3.1 Planned Action

Nordiq Canada will undertake an additional comprehensive feasibility study related to:

• Common wax protocols
• Youth ski fleet limitations

Because of the complexity of these topics, no changes related to wax protocols or ski fleet limitations have been finalized at this time.

The study will explore implementation considerations, feasibility, and potential impacts.

Recommendations are expected to be presented in Fall 2026.

4. Strengthening Collegiate Competition

The feedback received from across the community highlighted strong support for collegiate cross-country skiing as an important pathway within the sport.

For many athletes, post-secondary participation provides an opportunity to continue competing, training, and contributing to the ski community while pursuing their educational goals.

4.1 Planned Action

Beginning in the 2026–2027 season:

• Collegiate competition opportunities will continue to be offered through the Canadian Collegiate Nordic Series (CCNS).
• The series will continue to be integrated into Tier 1 and Tier 2 events throughout the season.
• Student-athletes will be recognized through a dedicated collegiate competition stream.
• The Nordiq Canada National Ski Championships will continue to include a dedicated Canadian Collegiate Nordic Championships category and awards – restricted to Collegiate teams only.
• Eligibility requirements will be updated to make participation more accessible to student-athletes across the country.

What Happens Next

June 2026

Announcement of proposed changes

Fall 2026

Presentation of feasibility study findings and implementation guidance for divisions, clubs, coaches, officials, and race organizers related to common wax protocols and youth ski fleet limitations.

Winter 2026–2027

First season operating under approved youth sport development updates.

Spring 2027

Evaluation of implementation outcomes and identification of any required adjustments.

Questions or Feedback?

Nordiq Canada welcomes ongoing feedback from members of the ski community as this work continues.

For questions or comments regarding the proposed updates, please contact: