2023 Nordic Junior/U23 World Ski Championships at Whistler Olympic Park

WHISTLER, B.C.—Canada’s cross-country ski community will reconnect at Whistler Olympic Park in one year’s time for the 2022 Canadian Ski Championships, Nordiq Canada announced on Monday.

The governing body for cross-country skiing in Canada tapped Black Tusk Nordic Events Society in the spectacular Callaghan Valley to host the premier event on the 2022 domestic race calendar, March 20-27.

“After unfortunately having to cancel this event in each of the last two years to protect the safety of our athletes, coaches and volunteers while the COVID-19 pandemic continued to run its course, we are very much looking forward to reuniting our entire community in Whistler next March for our national championships,” said Stéphane Barrette, Chief Executive Officer, Nordiq Canada. “We look forward to working with Black Tusk Nordic Events Society on staging this prestigious event.”

More than 700 senior, junior and Para-Nordic skiers will compete for national crowns in sprints, distance races and team sprints on the trails at Whistler Olympic Park, which were homologated to meet international standards to host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

“We are super excited to be the host Organizing Committee for the 2022 national championships which will see the best skiers in Canada back at Whistler Olympic Park,” said Norm Laube, Chair, Black Tusk Nordic Events Society. “Our officials and volunteers are already working hard with Whistler Sport Legacies to be prepared to showcase the Olympic legacy venue.”

The 94th running of the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships will serve as a dry run for Laube and his team at the Black Tusk Nordic Events Society as they ready themselves to host the 2023 Nordic Junior/U23 World Ski Championships. Last fall, the International Ski Federation (FIS) declared the next generation of Nordic stars – in cross-country skiing, ski jumping and Nordic combined – will be striding and soaring into Canada’s west coast for the first time since the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

More than 700 athletes representing 50 countries are expected to compete for the World Junior/U23 podium on Whistler’s ski trails and jumping towers in two years time. A developing group of Canadian cross-country skiers, including Remi Drolet (British Columbia), Xavier McKeever (Alberta), Tom Stephen (Alberta) and Olivier Léveillé (Quebec), will be looking to add to the historic silver and bronze medals they have won for Canada at the last two World Junior Championships.

“The 2022 Canadian Ski Championships will be a great test event to prepare our team for the FIS Nordic Junior/U23 World Ski Championships that we will host in January 2023,” added Laube. “Providing our young athletes with home snow advantage at a major international event will offer a critical test along their journey to represent Canada at future World Championships and the Olympics. Just as importantly, our hope is that bringing these talented athletes to the west coast will also help foster Olympic dreams in Canada’s youth, inspiring them to try our sports and get on skis.”

The Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships have been contested twice at Whistler Olympic Park (2013 and 2008).  A World Cup test event was also held in 2009 as part of final preparations to host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

For more information on Black Tusk Nordic Events Society, please visit www.blacktusknordic.com.

Nordiq Canada is the governing body of para-nordic and cross-country skiing in Canada, which is the nation’s optimal sport and recreational activity with more than one million Canadians participating annually. Its 60,000 members include athletes, coaches, officials and skiers of all ages and abilities. With the support of its valued corporate partners – Haywood Securities Inc., AltaGas, Swix and Lanctôt Sports– along with the Government of Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Own the Podium and B2Ten, Nordiq Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic and World champions. For more information on Nordiq Canada, please visit us at www.nordiqcanada.ca.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Chris Dornan

Nordiq Canada

T: 403-620-8731

E-mail: hpprchris@shaw.ca