Divisions Update

Weekly Division Update March 6

March 07, 2025

Draft 2025-2026 Race Calendar Update

Thank you for providing feedback on the location of the 2026 World Junior/U23 trials, which was shared as part of a draft race calendar. Nordiq Canada’s draft race calendar was developed earlier in the year, before events south of the border changed our political and economic landscape. At that time, providing our skiers the opportunity to compete on the same trails that would be used for the 2026 World Cup Finals was one of many important considerations. This calendar is conditional on further consultation with key stakeholder groups, including the Athlete Advisory Committee, DTE coaches, the Officials Working Group, and Divisions. We will complete this consultation process after nationals to provide clarity to athletes, coaches and event organizers.

While Nordiq Canada does have a long-term commitment to joint US-Canada competition opportunities, a format that has provided a strong competitive forum for high performance athletes from both Canada and the US, in the short term, economic and social priorities may influence our involvement over the next year. Additionally, we remain committed to our strategic plan priority of supporting domestic development as part of our competition planning.

We appreciate your ongoing feedback and commitment to the development of our sport. Please continue to reach out.

In these stressful times, we will be stronger together when we have difficult conversations respectfully as one team.

Athlete Directors: Notice of Election and Call for Candidates

The Athlete Directors (sometimes referred to as “Athlete Reps”) are full voting members on Nordiq Canada’s Board of Directors and represent the perspectives of Nordiq Canada’s race license holders athletes in decision making at the Board level. They are crucial to ensuring the athlete’s voice is heard, and to Nordiq Canada’s success as an organization. Nordiq Canada has three Athlete Director positions. Two positions are up for election this year:

Male Athlete Director (Can be an Olympic stream or Para athlete); the current male Athlete Director is Julian Smith.
Para Athlete Director (Para athlete of any gender); this is the first year that we will elect a Para Athlete Director.

Learn More

Natalie Wilkie Claims World Championships Silver, in Trondheim!

It was a bittersweet day for Wilkie, who narrowly missed gold in a sprint finish to Norway’s Vilde Nilsen. Finishing with silver, she experienced a momentous occasion as over 20,000 spectators witnessed the first-ever joint Cross-Country and Para Cross-Country World Championships event—a historic day for Para sport.

Canada Claims 5th in Team Relay at World Championships

For the second consecutive World Championships, Canada’s men’s relay team finished fifth, proving once again that Canada is a cross-country skiing force to be reckoned with. Just 3.5 seconds off the podium, Xavier McKeever, Antoine Cyr, Max Hollmann, and Olivier Léveillé delivered an incredible performance, keeping all of Canada on the edge of their seats right to the finish line.