Canada’s Olympic cross-country ski trials have been relocated from Prince George, B.C., to Vernon, B.C., due to unfavorable snow conditions. The trials, set to determine Canada’s team for the upcoming Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy, will maintain their original dates of Dec. 13-17 but will now take place at Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre instead of Caledonia Nordic Ski Centre.
Nordiq Canada announced the venue change on Saturday, citing inadequate snow conditions in Prince George that made it impossible to ensure the required course quality for an Olympic qualification event. With no flexibility in the competition schedule, and given the sufficient natural snow accumulation at Sovereign Lake, the decision was made to shift the trials to a more suitable location.
Expressing gratitude to the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club and the Prince George community for their preparations, Nordiq Canada’s CEO Beckie Scott acknowledged the challenging decision, recognizing the uncontrollable influence of weather. Scott praised the dedication, professionalism, and passion of the Prince George venue while emphasizing the necessity of adapting to external circumstances.
Sovereign Lake’s proven track record in hosting top-tier competitions instills confidence that it will offer the ideal conditions for athletes vying for spots on the 2026 Olympic Team. The opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games are scheduled for Feb. 6, with cross-country events commencing the following day and continuing through to the closing ceremonies on Feb. 22.
Canada boasts a successful history in Olympic cross-country skiing, with two gold medals and one silver under its belt. Beckie Scott, an Olympic gold medalist in 2002 following disqualifications of competitors for doping, also clinched a silver in the team sprint event alongside Sara Renner in 2006. Additionally, Chandra Crawford secured a gold medal in the women’s sprint in 2006.