Clubs:
The 2027 Bill Gairdner Canadian Masters Cross-Country Ski Championships will be hosted by Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario from February 11-14, 2027. Although it is the championship event for Canadian Masters skiers it is open to all Masters skiers who hold membership in an association affiliated with the World Masters Cross-country Ski Association such as the AXCS. We would love to have as many Masters racers participate in this event as possible.
Racers from outside Canada will be recognized if they finish in the top 5 of the overall standings for each age group based on World Masters five year groupings. It may also be of interest to add this event as one of the Michigan Cup events for Masters. The Organizing Committee will be using Zone4.ca for entry, communications and results so you could easily draw your participants' results for your Cup standings.
Just a thought. Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario is not that far away and it will be a very well organized masters specific event with two championship race distances for both classic and free technique disciplines as well as a mixed gender and group 4 x 2 km relay.
You can also go here to get further information: https://soofinnishnordic.com/soo-finnish-nordic-ski-club-to-host-2027-bill-gairdner-canadian-masters-championship/
Feel free to email Amy Wheeler-Reich (a.wheelerreich@me.com) or myself for more info.
Cheers,
Mark Orzel
Ontario Masters Cross-Country Ski Association, Director
Cdn. Masters Cross-Country Ski Association, Technical Director & Clothing
Coordinator
Ottawa, ON
Canada
Press release from the Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club:
Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club to Host 2027 Bill Gairdner Canadian Masters Championship
Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club is proud to announce that it will host the 2027 Bill Gairdner Canadian Masters Cross Country Ski Championship from February 11-14, 2027, at Hiawatha Highlands in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
The event will welcome Masters athletes from across Canada to compete on the beautiful ski trails of the Hiawatha Highlands in competition categories ranging from ages 30 through 94. The championship will also serve as the 2027 Ontario Masters Cross Country Ski Championship.
The Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club has a strong tradition of cross-country skiing excellence and event hosting dating back to the 1960s. Known for delivering high-quality competitions and fostering a vibrant Northern Ontario ski community, the club has recently hosted the Ontario Special Olympics, the Ontario University Athletics Nordic Skiing Championships, and an Ontario Cup Race. Supported by more than 100 volunteers, an extensive trail network, and reliable snow conditions, the club is well-positioned to host an outstanding 2027 national championship.
“We are excited to welcome Canada’s Masters ski community to Sault Ste. Marie in 2027,” said Amy Wheeler Reich, Organizing Committee Chair. “Hosting this event is an opportunity to help us to continue building our local Masters ski community while demonstrating that cross country skiing is truly a life long sport.”
The Bill Gairdner Canadian Masters Championship celebrates lifelong participation and competition in cross-country skiing, bringing together athletes of all abilities in a spirit of fitness, camaraderie, and sportsmanship.
“This Championship is a tremendous opportunity to showcase Sault Ste. Marie as a premier winter destination,” said Travis Anderson, Director of Tourism for the City of Sault Ste. Marie. “The event will generate important economic benefits for local hotels, restaurants, and tourism businesses while highlighting the strength of our Nordic ski community and the exceptional outdoor experiences our region offers visitors.”
Additional event details, registration information, and schedules will be released closer to the event date. If you are interested in volunteering, let us know of your interest here.
