Northwestern Ontario athletes play big role in landmark cross-country ski season

It's been a landmark season for elite cross-country skiers right across Canada, and athletes from northwestern Ontario are playing a big role in the success.

This season has featured strong showings at the Winter Youth Olympics Games and podium appearances at races on the international cross-country skiing circuit. 

An athlete advocate in Thunder Bay, Ont., believes the accomplishments in cross-country skiing this season are not just derived from competitions and individual athletes, but also a recent culture shift in the sport itself.

"There is a big push both from the athlete body but also from the governing side of things … that this is a team," explained Julian Smith, an Athletes CAN representative and competitive skier with the National Team Development Centre in Thunder Bay.

"We have this expansive group of diverse and committed individuals … that as a team, as a nation we have a real ability to come together and perform on the world stage," Smith said.

Thunder Bay is home to one of few national training centres in the country, with two others centres, in Quebec and Alberta.

The national ski team in Canada is decentralized, which means skiers can live and train where they wish. Smith said at times this format can be a detriment, especially when it comes to the costs associated with training, traveling, and racing.

The recent push to bring athletes together, regardless of where they train, is already paying off as many cross-country skiers are capturing major accomplishments on a number of world stages.

Earlier this year, Thunder Bay athlete Cedric Martel travelled to Gangwon, South Korea, to compete in the Winter Youth Olympics Games. He was also joined by Eric Bailey, a cross-country skiing coach in Thunder Bay.