The Bill Gairdner Masters National XC Championships is expected to attract numerous competitors nationwide, with the hosting club boasting a potential injection of up to $300,000 into the local economy
The Whitehorse Nordic Centre announced it will host the Bill Gairdner Masters National XC Championships from Feb. 19-23, 2025, showcasing Yukon’s trails to competitive skiers.
Since registrations opened on Nov. 15, approximately 100 cross-country skiers from across Canada have signed up, with promotional activities underway in Alaska, according to Stuart Hamilton, the centre’s chief of competition.
The centre has also introduced a new optional Nordiq Canada Masters race license. This license allows master skiers to see how they rank virtually against age-group competitors nationwide.
The race schedule includes a 5-kilometre classic race on Feb. 19, a 5-kilometre freestyle event on Feb. 20, longer races on Feb. 22-23, and a closing banquet on Feb. 23.
Competitors can use a ventilated hot wax room with eight stations for glide waxing and ten stations for kick waxing inside the main ski chalet. Fluorinated waxes are prohibited in the waxing areas and on the trails. The Sternwheeler Hotel will also provide a wax room, but skiers must bring their own equipment.
Competitors can expect 95 kilometres of groomed trails on Kwanlin Dün and Ta’an Kwach’an lands stretching across the mountainous west side of Whitehorse, with the central base preparing waxing areas, a rental shop, washrooms, saunas and a lounge at the chalet.
The Whitehorse Nordic Centre states that hosting the Bill Gairdner Masters National presents an opportunity to showcase Whitehorse as a premier winter destination to skiers nationwide, according to a Nov. 20 news release.
The release states that the event could potentially generate up to $300,000 for the local economy through direct and indirect spending.
“Athletes will experience world-class skiing, and our local businesses will feel the positive impact of increased tourism during what is typically a quieter season,” said event chair, Ben Poudou.
The event is scheduled to coincide with the annual Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous festival featuring musical performances, family activities, snow sculpting competitions and a range of contests like the flour sack carry, the chainsaw chuck and the log toss.
The Nordic Centre announced on their website that they partnered with Whitehorse businesses during the competition to provide visiting competitors with discounts on activities like Northern lights viewing and dog-sledding tours, with more arrangements in progress.
