Welcome to Ski News. We hope you enjoy reading about Nova Scotia’s cross-country ski community.
Skills Clinics
We offer skills clinics for able bodied and para nordic skiers of all ages and abilities. Some events offer equipment to borrow, such as ski gear, sit skis or a kick sled. Choose from social skis, beginner clinics, snowshoe jaunts, moonlit adventures and more. We also list clinics hosted by Municipalities and organizations.
Schools and community groups are encouraged to book a skills clinic tailored to your requirements – we have a ski fleet available for rent, which is available with or without a coach or support staff. Learn more.
Clinics by CCNS, municipalities +/or organizations:
Feb 7 @ Rec Hut, Kingston
Feb 14 @ Recreation Hub, Kentville
Feb 14 @ Recreation Hub, Kentville
Feb 14 @ The Keppoch
Feb 15 @ The Keppoch
Ski Maintenance Workshops
Attend a ski maintenance workshop led by ski technician, Ike Whitehead, aka “that ski guy”. You’ll be in a fun group environment where you’ll learn simple techniques to take care of your skis – with opportunities to practice. Some sessions include ski lessons on-snow after the classroom-based workshop. Organizations are invited to book a workshop for your staff +/or volunteers. Learn More.
Workshops by municipalities + organizations:
Feb 7 @ The Village of Kingston (on-snow lesson + workshop)
Feb 9 @ The Links at Brunello
Feb 14 @ The Keppoch (on-snow lesson + workshop)
Feb 15 @ The Keppoch (on-snow lesson + workshop)
Nova Scotia Provincial Championships
Feb 21-22, 2026 at North Highlands Nordic
This friendly event has races for all ages and abilities. Some skiers choose competitive races, while many select recreational “fun skis” – there’s something for everyone! Be inspired by Nova Scotia’s bunny rabbits, grand-masters, first-timers, and team competitors. The event will be held at North Highlands Nordic, located in Cape North, Cape Breton Island.
> Event Details (Details coming soon. Will be posted on NHN website)
2026 Bill Gairdner Canadian Masters Championships
Feb 19-22, 2026 at Killarney Lake Park, New Brunswick
This event will be Fredericton’s first national cross-country ski championships and will draw skiers 30 years of age and older from across the country. View additional event and registration details by visiting the link below.
Events
Find additional cross-country ski events across the province hosted by ski clubs, municipalities, and various organizations. You can subscribe to our Gmail calendar to receive email notifications when new events are added. If your organization has an event to list, contact communications@crosscountryns.ca.
> Event Webpage
> Subscribe to Google Calendar
Adult Ski Camps – A Success
Adult Cross-Country Ski Skills Camp at North Highlands Nordic, January 30 – February 1
Our adult cross-country ski skills camp held at North Highlands Nordic, on January 30 – February 1st, delivered a high-energy, inspiring, and individually tailored camp experience for participants of all experience levels from across the province.
At the heart of our program, were six shining stars, our Nova Scotia volunteer coaches. We are proud to connect participants with our technically-skilled ski enthusiasts who dedicated their weekend to teaching the technical aspects of our sport, fostering a love for cross-country skiing, and strengthening friendships within our community. Our line-up included: John Cameron, John Graham, David Hubley, Dorian Hudec, Daniel Murray and Michelle Richards.
Skiers from across the province learned new technical skills, connected with fellow skiers, and enjoyed time on North Highlands Nordic’s 11km trail system and nordic centre facility.
Feedback from participants was nothing short of exceptional. Our coaches created an environment where everyone felt capable of improving. One couple advised it was “the best cross-country ski clinic we have ever attended!”
” This was the best cross-country ski clinic we have ever attended!”
by camp participants
We will continue in the tradition of hosting an adult skills camp annually at North Highlands Nordic!
On Snow Adult Cross-Country Ski Training Camp, January 23-25, in Charlo, New Brunswick
Cross Country Nova Scotia and Cross Country Ski New Brunswick partnered to offer a regional workshop for adult skiers at Les Aventuriers in Charlo, New Brunswick. The workshop was led by Stephen Novosad, Coach Development Manager for Nordiq Canada. Participants learned about pace-oriented workouts, racing tactics, technical aspects of skate and classic techniques, and race day preparation. Importantly, this workshop further developed Atlantic Canada’s cross-country ski community by creating new friendships amongst skiers. This camp will be hosted again next season.
Photos courtesy of NB Masters Ski Association, Facebook Group
Snow Report
View groomed trail conditions across the province. Conditions are re-posted daily from ski area websites. Links to trail locations, maps, trail profiles on TrailForks and more! There are numerous micro-climates in Nova Scotia – while your front lawn may be green, groomed trails could be just a car ride away.
Clubs
Nova Scotia has four cross-country ski clubs that bring outdoor enthusiasts together. Consider joining one of our clubs to meet new ski friends and spend time with positive minded people. There are many ways to be involved as a volunteer that bring a great sense of purpose and the satisfaction of seeing many enjoy the sport. Our clubs welcome visiting skiers.
Cross-country ski clubs maintain expertly groomed and marked trails, which provide a safe place for beginners to learn. Clubs also host social events, races, pop-up races, pop-up instruction sessions, and offer programs for all ages and abilities. Additional activities may include: roller-skiing, nordic walking, snowshoeing, weekly social skis, and group trips.
Learn more about our clubs:
Baddeck Nordic Club, Baddeck
Cape Breton Nordic, North Sydney
North Highlands Nordic, Cape North
Scotia XC Ski Club, HRM, Greenwood, Kentville, Windsor
Volunteer Nominations
Do you know a special volunteer who goes above and beyond? Every spring at our AGM, we recognize individuals who have made an impact on our sport and the achievements of our provincial team athletes.
Nominate someone today!
> Nomination form
> Historic Recipients
Ski Team News
Nova Scotia’s Emma Archibald Nominated to Compete at Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games!
Massive congratulations to Emma Archibald! Emma is one of fifteen para nordic skiers named to compete at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games!
Archibald is blazing a trail in the sport. She is the first Nova Scotia para-nordic skier to earn her spot on the Nordic Canada National Team, University Team (uOttawa Nordiq), and Paralympic Team!
Article Features:
Team of 15 Para Nordic Skiers Nominated to Compete at Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games by Canadian Paralympic Committee, January 30, 2026
Calgary, January 30, 2026 – A team of 15 Para nordic skiers, including guides – who compete across Para biathlon and Para cross-country skiing – have been nominated to compete for Canada at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Nordiq Canada announced …
> Read full article
Fall River’s Emma Archibald Realizes Paralympic Dream by The Laker News, Pat Healey, February 1, 2026
Ottawa, Ont.: A dream years in the making is now reality for Fall River’s Emma Archibald. Archibald, a Lockview High alum, has been officially nominated to Nordiq Canada’s Para nordic skiing team for the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina, becoming one of 15 athletes and guides selected to represent the country on the sport’s biggest stage…
> Read full article
Racing Without Compromise: Emma Archibald’s Journey to Belonging by Nordiq Canada, Oct 5, 2025
Emma Archibald’s path to para nordic skiing started later than most, but what she found in the sport was far more valuable than podiums, she found a place where she could be herself. “I didn’t come into skiing thinking I had to prove something,” Emma says. “I just wanted to find a place where I didn’t have to compromise who I was.”…
> Read full article
Follow Along with Emma:
FIS Athlete Profile
Paralympic Team Profile
Nordiq Canada National Team Profile
uOttawa Nordiq team
Race Results and Training
Nova Scotia ski team athletes have been busy training and racing! A training camp was held in Baddeck on November 28-30. Athletes have been on the racing circuit in Germany, Alberta, Quebec and New Brunswick.
Emma Archibald
Continental Cup, Canmore, Nov 27
5km interval start standing free, 2nd/7
Para Nordic World Cup, Canmore, Dec 4-7
20km mass start standing classic, 9th/13
1.5km sprint final standing free, semi-final, 8th/15
Candy Cane Cup, Gatineau, Dec 21
10km interval start free, 26th/34 (competing in able-body field)
FIS Para Cross-Country World Cup, Finsterau, Germany, Jan 14-18
10km interval start standing free, 9th/16
10km mass start standing free, 13th/18
1.5km sprint final standing classic, semi-final, 7th/20
1.5km sprint qualification standing classic, 5th/20
* Noting Emma’s personal best in sprint qualifier!
Romey Gallagher
Quebec Cup#2, Rimouski, QC, Jan 10-11
10km classic mass start u16, 35th/40
7.5km skate individual start u16, 42nd/48
Maritime Cup, NB Cups #1 + #2, Charlo, NB, Jan 17-18
7.5km mass start skate u16, 1st/3
7.5km individual start classic u16, 1st/3
Mirimichi NB Cup #3, Mirimichi, NB, Feb 1
7.5km mass start free u16, 1st/3
Suzanne Jackson
Eastern Canada Cup/FIS Candy Cane Cup, Gatineau, Dec 19-21
1km classic sprint u18, 15th/54
5km free individual start u18, 20th/52
US Cross Country Championships, Lake Placid, Jan 4-9
1.4km skate sprint open women, 225/366
10km individual classic open women, 196/283
Quebec Cup #3, Sherbrooke, QC, Jan 17-18
1.3km sprint free u18, semi-finals, 7th/29
10km skate mass start u18, 11th/25
Paige Neklia
Maritime Cup, NB Cup #1, Charlo, NB, Jan 17-18
7.5km individual start classic u20, 1st/1
Cohen Norman
Eastern Canada Cup/FIS Candy Cane Cup, Gatineau, Dec 19-21
7.5km int start classic open/u20/CCUNC, 42nd/97
1.4km qual-open-u20, 30th/91
10km int start free senior m/u20, 33rd/99
US Cross Country Championships, Lake Placid, Jan 4-9
7.5km individual classic open men, 258/371
1.4km sprint free open men, 225/366
February Racing
Next up, athletes Cohen Norman, Suzanne Jackson and team alumni Milo Sircom-Brown will compete at 2026 Canadian Eastern Championships, February 6-8, in Gatineau, Quebec. Keep an eye out for racers competing at Nova Scotia Provincial Championships, February 22-23, at North Highlands Nordic; Cohen Norman and Sircom-Brown are set to compete (potentially additional NS team alumni) at Ontario University Athletics Nordic Skiing Championships, February 20-22; and we may have skiers entering the Cross Country Ski New Brunswick Cup series of events.
Team Instagram
Follow along as our team trains and competes. Our account is updated by volunteers who are trailside in the heart of the action and sometimes at home after the fun… we will have publishing time lags, but we are determined to record these experiences.
We are also hoping to showcase our province’s ski history. Multiple generations of athletes, coaches, and ski enthusiasts have developed a love for our sport because of many who came before them. Our dedicated coaches, builders, volunteers, and enthusiasts are the reason today’s athletes, trails, and sport exist.
We see our clubs continuing the tradition by grooming more than 66 km of trails. We even have the first dedicated ski chalet in Nova Scotia at North Highlands Nordic and our athletes continue to compete in the best sport in the world provincially, nationally and internationally – securing top ten finishes. We observe history in the making as Nova Scotia and Canada will be represented at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games by Emma Archibald!
Officials Courses
Level 1 – Online, complete anytime at your pace
Coaching Courses
Coaching courses enhace the enjoyment of our sport – even if you don’t intend to coach or assist in a formal capacity. Whether you’re a parent who’s looking to pick up a few tricks to raise lifelong skiers, a grandparent who wants to become more involved in assisting with club programs, or a competitive skier interested in coaching the next generation of racers – NCCP is your first step.
Introduction to Community Coaching – Online, complete anytime at your pace
Community Coaching – In-person, offered generally once per season by CCNS
> NCCP
Nordiq Canada Coaching License
Sign-up for the 2025-26 Nordiq Canada Coaching licence! Who needs a licence? Anyone who performs typical coaching or instruction tasks with a Nordiq Canada club, including delivering or helping to deliver practices with any age group. Only coaches who meet the minimum mandatory coaching qualifications and have a valid coaching license will benefit from Nordiq Canada’s liability insurance while coaching with a Nordiq Canada ski club.
Personal information is kept private and may only be used for risk management, planning and communication between the coach, Nordiq Canada and the coach’s club and division.
The license is renewable annually and is valid from July 1 to June 30. Registration opens June 15 each year. You must already be a club member to sign up for a coaching license.
Free NCCP Coaching Courses + E-Learning Modules
Sport Nova Scotia is announcing that free NCCP Competition Introduction and Competition Development coaching courses have been scheduled for January to April 2026.
In addition, free codes are also available for coaches wishing to complete the following e-learning modules in The NCCP Locker:
Sport Nutrition
Creating Positive Sport Environments
Coaching Initiation
Leading Drug-Free Sport
Coaching Athletes with a Disability
To obtain your free code, please contact:
Mike Hudson: mike.hudson@coachingns.ca
Allison Saunders: allison@csiatlantic.ca
Board of Directors
Our volunteer leadership team is dedicated to the strategic growth of our sport. With more than 150 years of combined cross-country ski experience and diverse professional backgrounds, our executive directors work to bring the joy of skiing to many.
Cross Country Nova Scotia 