‘That was a full-blown World Cup heat’: national ski competition comes to Alberta mountains

KANANASKIS – It may be more for bragging rights than anything, but the ski cross national championships wasn’t lacking any star power from the ski world.

Nakiska Ski Area in Kananaskis Country was the scene of the annual national championships on Saturday (April 5), with some of the country’s best clicking into their skis.

For the men, winning gold was Reece Howden, winner of the 2024-25 Crystal Globe in ski cross. Ins second was Jared Schmidt and taking bronze was Canmore’s Kris Mahler.

Eleven-time World Cup medallist Courtney Hoffos won gold in the women’s category, while Abby McEwen took silver and Roxy Coatesworth won bronze.

Coatesworth was also the U19 women’s gold medallist. Abby Garnsey took silver and Noel Nichol was third. In the men’s U19, Rohith Bajwa took gold, Ryan Jamieson took silver, and Nate Springs secured bronze.

 

 

 

 

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In the men’s Big Finals, which boasted a line-up of world champions, Olympians and World Cup gold medallists, Mahler said it was a “full-blown World Cup heat”.

“I could feel my nerves, I felt the lightness of my legs, and it’s like, you’re there,” said Mahler. “Every time I click into my skis in the start gate, it’s serious, so it was fun racing today and we definitely got the intensity up as well.”

Racing on Nakiska’s Powder Face course, the men take about 45 seconds to get from start gate to finish line while going over big jumps and curves in a head-to-head scenario. Ski cross is heat racing, with the fastest athletes advancing to the next round.

At nationals, it is more for bragging rights than anything, said Mahler.

“I think that goes on all year long,” said Mahler with a laugh. “It’s a little bit more relaxed environment when you’re in an event like this for us because you don’t put as much on the line and it’s a good opportunity to have that release and see what it does for your performance.”

Nationals are also a time where the older athletes can mentor the next generation.

“When I was coming up, it was the older guys giving me advice and showing me the ropes and I just want to be able to give that back as much as I can,” said Mahler. “If we collectively get better as a country, we’re all going to be fast.”