Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 Ontario Youth Championships, held February 22-23 at Walden Cross Country in Greater Sudbury.
Twenty-four Soo Finnish athletes competed across all age categories from U8 through U14 in a full weekend of racing that showcased both individual excellence and incredible team spirit. Overall, Soo Finnish came second to Kanata Nordic in the challenge for the Cross Country Ski Ontario club banner, which is awarded to the club that accumulates the most points from skier’s results over the weekend of racing.
The championship weekend featured three exciting race formats in both classic and free (skate) technique. In addition, an “after hours” social was hosted by Science North on Friday evening, and families were also encouraged to participate in a “Sudbury Saturday Night”
visiting attractions in the area.
Soo Finnish skiers earned many personal bests over the two days of racing, in addition to multiple podiums.
Day 1 – Interval Start in Free Technique:
-> Charlie Harvey – 1st
-> Isla Sinclair – 2nd
-> Xiaokang Cui – 3rd
-> Gwendolyn Tchir – 1st
Day 2 – Mass Start in Classic Technique:
-> Charlie Harvey – 2nd
-> Lucy Simpson – 1st
-> Sawyer Johnston – 3rd
-> Xiaokang Cui – 1st
-> Gwendolyn Tchir – 1st
Beyond podium finishes, the Ontario Youth Championships event is about development: learning how to prepare for competition, gaining experience in race formats, and connecting with fellow skiers and coaches from across the province. Soo Finnish athletes embraced the
opportunity to cheer loudly, lift each other up, and create lasting memories as a team and a larger community.
The group was led by Head Coach Declan MacDougall, with dedicated support from volunteer coaches Anna Reich, Mark Jobst, and Ian Sinclair, and parent assistants. A special thank you goes out to the volunteer wax technicians Trevor, Kevin, Cam, Dan C, Dan J, and Tim, under Declan’s leadership to prepare skis for all athletes over both race days.
“Ontario Youth Championships are about much more than skiing fast,” said Declan MacDougall. “It’s about learning and building interest in the sport, supporting one another, and having fun while building a strong team culture. Our athletes represented Soo Finnish with heart, determination, and incredible team spirit. We also want to thank all the volunteers at Walden Cross Country, Cross Country Ski Ontario, and at our own Club for making opportunities like this happen.”
Next up for Soo Finnish athletes this week are the OFSAA Nordic Skiing Championships, organized by local school boards, and the Ontario Winter Games, where ten Soo Finnish athletes will proudly represent Sault Ste. Marie and Northern Ontario.
Information about the Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club, youth programs, and donation or sponsorship opportunities can be found at soofinnishnordic.com.
Source: Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club/Photos: Wenbin Cui, Kristy McKay, Sarah Johnston, John Harvey, and Ian Sinclair
