By Nick Dube

Prince George prepares for Olympic Trials

Nov 20, 2025 | 4:56 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The Caledonia Nordic Ski Club will welcome Canada’s top cross-country skiers, who will compete for a spot on the national team for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. With an event this noteworthy comes expectations and challenges which organizers say with previous experience and planning they are prepared to meet.

“This is the first time we’ve hosted Olympic trials in the city of any sport but also, the first time the Olympic trials with Nordic Canada has ever been hosted as a standalone event. So we were really pleased that Nordic Canada gave us the nod to be able to do this. This is a very high prominent event as well and so we’re taking all those kind of elements that we were doing for the World Championships and bringing those to this event as much as we can.” said the Event Chair of the Nordiq Canada 2026 Olympic Winter Games Trials Kevin Petterssen.

A challenge the Ski Club faces is making sure there is enough snow to host an event like this. With current temperatures hovering in the low pluses during the day with minimal snow so far this may concern many as the clock is ticking but Pettersen says organizers have planned for any scenario that comes their way.

“So having snowmaking in is was definitely a factor for hosting this event and that’s why Nordic Canada reached out to us. We’ve got nine of these large snow guns, lots of water and lots of electricity. We do need Mother Nature to cooperate with the cooler temperatures. So basically, below minus five and we can make snow.” said Petterssen.

With an event like this comes a large economic boost to the City of Prince George.

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“Not only the athletes but the coaches, the officials, family coming to watch. That’s all money spent in hotels, restaurants and local shops.It’s a very significant impact. That’s one of our strategic goals, to attract events to Prince George like that because it has a significant economic impact on our city.’ said City Councillor Ron Polillo.

Prince George will make history this December as it hosts the Nordiq Canada 2026 Olympic Winter Games Trials, the first Olympic trials of any sport to be held in Northern BC.