A Coaching Experience on the International Stage
I want to take a moment to share my experience with Team Canada after our incredible performance at the FIS World Junior and World U23 Championships in Schilpario, Italy. This event truly showcased the strength, dedication, and talent of our Canadian athletes, and it’s clear that we’re making serious strides on the international stage.
Our pre-camp in Seefeld, Austria, was the perfect way to prepare for the event. We spent time working on technique, getting to know each other better, and enjoying the beautiful location. The food was amazing, and we even took a day trip to Innsbruck, which gave everyone a much-needed break from skiing.
Our athletes had remarkable performances, securing four bronze medals for Canada, along with numerous top 10 and top 20 finishes. Their dedication, resilience, and hard work represented the strength of our team. Each athlete contributed to our success and demonstrated what it means to perform at the highest level.
An inspiring part was to see the mentorship from our U23 athletes toward their younger teammates. With two athletes only 16 years old—Minty and Zach—the leadership, maturity, and guidance shown by the older teammates was incredibly motivating and showed the strength of our athlete-driven culture.
The coaching support team, with its mix of skills and teamwork, was a big part of our success. With Jouni Pitkanen as team manager and U23 lead coach, me as the U20 lead coach, Tormod Vatten backing us up as the U23 assistant coach, and Julien Lamoureux bringing his expertise to the U20 group, we tackled challenges with confidence. I believe that together we helped our athletes give their best. The collaboration between staff, coaches, and wax technicians was outstanding, with exceptional communication ensuring that we operated as a cohesive and efficient team. The event environment was not only fun but also supporting, providing everyone with opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive in their role.
Our team continued a special tradition from last year: the "victory cake celebrations”, which has become a symbol of our achievements and unity (photo below). Each medal was celebrated with a delicious cake, and we enjoyed four memorable evenings that allowed us to come together and celebrate our hard work.
My experience at the event was a great reminder of the importance of teamwork, mentorship, and a shared commitment towards excellence. Canada finished as the fifth nation overall in the Championships and I believe it was thanks to the amazing teamwork from everyone.
Finally, I want to take a moment to thank Cross Country BC and Nordiq Canada for this incredible opportunity to continue growing as a coach. It’s been a privilege to be part of such an amazing program, and I’m grateful for the chance to contribute to the success of Team Canada. I’ve learned so much from this experience, and I’m excited to keep building on this momentum.
I’m beyond proud of the entire team and excited for what lies ahead. The future of cross-country skiing in Canada is incredibly bright, and I can’t wait to see how far we go.
……… Maria Lundgren, Cross Country BC
Athlete Reports & Photos from the 2025 World Jr/U23 Championships
Link: https://www.crosscountrybc.ca/athlete-reports-photos-fis-world-junioru23-championships-5