2026-2027 Ontario Ski Team Nominations

XCSO has restructured the way it will deliver high performance program support in Ontario. Detailed information about the NEW Ontario Ski Team program is linked here. This program targets athletes in years of birth 2008 and older (and some 2009 athletes based on performance at Nordiq Canada Ski Nationals). The full camps calendar is linked here.

OST North Star

Ontario Ski Team (OST) programming supports athletes pursuing international performance goals while recognizing the essential role of club and varsity athletes, domestic competitors, training partners, and future coaches in building a strong and sustainable performance system.

We value continued engagement in the sport as an important contribution to athlete development environments, performance culture, and long-term system strength.

Athletes remain in sport for different reasons at different stages of their journey. Some are motivated by the pursuit of international performance outcomes. Others are motivated by the challenge of training well, contributing to a strong team environment, and continuing to improve within a sport they value.

A strong performance system respects both motivations.

Athletes who continue to train and compete because they value the process of improvement, the training environment, and the culture of the sport contribute meaningfully to:

• the quality of daily training environments
• the strength of varsity programs
• the development of future high-performance athletes
• the long-term leadership capacity of the sport
• the sustainability of Ontario’s performance pathway

Ontario’s approach recognizes that international podium performances are supported by strong training cultures built by athletes who care deeply about the sport, regardless of whether their primary objective is national team selection.

Program Design

The Ontario Ski Team integrates:

• Daily Training Environments (club and varsity programs)
• Camps and performance projects
• Testing and monitoring
• Integrated Support Team services (strength, nutrition, mental performance, mental health, physio and other services)
• Competition planning
• Coaching collaboration

Athletes train primarily within their Daily Training Environment, while Team Ontario programming provides coordinated performance leadership that connects athletes and coaches to national standards, benchmarking, and targeted development opportunities that may be difficult to access within a single training environment. This integrated approach helps ensure athletes are progressing in alignment with the evolving demands of international performance while remaining supported within strong club and varsity programs.

Supported Ministry of Ontario Quest for Gold (Q4G) High Performance funding, and Ontario High Performance System Initiative (OHPSI) programming, we are excited about this new pathway for athletes in Ontario.

Criteria and Nomination

Criteria, funding and programming have been updated to reflect our commitment to supporting all U20/U23 athletes, while providing directed programming and financial support to Ontario’s top performing athletes.

The Ontario Ski Team now comprises 3 groups:

1. Group A – Q4G Funded / OHPSI Target Athlete Pool
2. Group B – OHPSI Target Athlete Pool
3. Group C – Emerging Athletes (U20/U23 Athletes with race licenses, and CPL > 70 not included in Groups A & B)

Groups A & B meet the updated OST criteria published on March 6.
Group A comprises up-to 10 men and 10 women.
Athletes from Group B will be moved to Group A as nominations are accepted or declined.

Group C reflects XCSO’s commitment to supporting all Ontario’s athletes engaged in training and racing. Group C athletes will be invited to certain training and competition opportunities.

Q4G funding will be used by OST Group A athletes to support their engagement in OST programming.

OHPSI funding supports XCSO’s efforts to provide comprehensive provincial high performance sport system that allows for sustained success of athletes and coaches at the very highest levels of international sport. Athletes in Groups A and B who accept their OST Nominations will have direct access to these supports, while athletes in Group C will have indirect access to these supports.

Force majeure information can be found at the bottom of this post, after the athletes list.

Congratulations to all nominated athletes! Group A & B athletes will receive an email this week with next steps. Group C athletes will receive information about programming opportunities.