ATHLETE FAQ

• uOttawa is a globally recognized institution, consistently ranking among Canada's top universities and in the top 1% worldwide.

• As the world's largest French/English bilingual university, uOttawa offers a unique and enriching academic experience with access to diverse programs and perspectives.

• Our commitment to academic excellence ensures you'll receive a world-class education while pursuing your athletic goals.

• Downtown campus: Rideau Canal, Parliament, Byward Market, trails, Gatineau Park access. Learn more about our campus (and schedule a campus tour) here: https://www.uottawa.ca/study/campus-tours-admissions-events/campus-tours

• uOttawa's scholarship program is one of the most generous in the country. More info here and List of Scholarships & Bursaries here. 

• Nakkertok Nordic: Our principal training venue, Nakkertok South, is only 15 minutes from uOttawa and features terrific grooming, varied terrain, racing trails homologated to FIS standards, and snowmaking for early season skiing. Nakkertok North offers fun backcountry trails.

• Gatineau Park: Just a short drive (or bike ride!) from campus, the Gatineau Park boasts over 200 kilometers of world-class groomed trails, considered some of the best in North America, and scenic parkways (32.5km car-free) that are ideal for rollerskiing,

• Urban Ski Trails: Ottawa itself offers seven city trails, many accessible by foot or public transit, including the Rideau Winter Trail adjacent to uOttawa and trails at Mooney's Bay.

• Convenient Dryland Training: Weekday morning workouts are close to campus. uOttawa is steps from the Rideau Canal and the NCC's 300km Capital Pathway Network for running, cycling, and rollerskiing. 

• Passionate and Certified Coaches: Our team is guided by passionate and certified coaches who are dedicated to helping you achieve your athletic goals.

• Dedicated Strength Coach: We also have a dedicated strength coach who will help you build the physical foundation needed for success on the trails.

• Our coaches are invested in your development as both an athlete and a student.

• The team has structured team practices 4-5 times per week Sept-April, where you can work out alongside teammates and receive coaching.

• For non-practice days and May - Aug, training guidance and daily workouts are provided based on our Year Training Plan.

• Athletes are encouraged to adapt the plan to their individual goals and schedules.

• The training schedule varies weekly volume and intensity to optimize fitness and recovery.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

FALL (Dryland - Tues and Thurs move to Nakkertok Nordic when there is enough snow - usually in November)

• Tuesday - 7:30 AM-9:00 AM.  Regular coordination Carleton Ravens and Nakkertok ENRG at various locations in Ottawa

• Wednesday - 4-5 PM.  Strength training at uOttawa's High Performance Center 

• Thursday - 7:30-9:00 AM. Usually close to uOttawa campus, often rollerskiing (or running) 

• Friday - 4-5 PM.  Strength training at uOttawa's High Performance Center 

• Sunday  - 8-10 AM. Usually in Gatineau Park - rollerskiing or ski striding/trail running

WINTER  

• Tuesday - 7:30-9:00 AM at Nakkertok Nordic 

• Wednesday - 4-5 PM. Strength training at uOttawa's High Performance Center

• Thursday - 7:30-9:00 AM. Rideau Winter Trail close to campus (if conditions allow) or Nakkertok Nordic 

• Sunday - 8-10 AM. Nakkertok Nordic (sometimes Gatineau Park) - schedule/day may vary to accommodate weekend racing

Athletes are responsible for coordinating their own transportation to practices.    

• We encourage regular attendance to benefit from coaching and team support.

• We understand academic conflicts arise. Please communicate with the coach (uottawanordiq@gmail.com) if you have scheduling issues.

• Selection for OUA Championships and some travel trips will be based on performance, attendance, and team contribution.

Absolutely! We understand this is your top priority. Many Gee-Gees combine academic and athletic excellence—we even have athletes who have represented Canada on the World Stage! In fact, the discipline and structure required for high-level sport often improves time management and focus, giving many athletes an edge in their studies. We build your training schedule around your academic commitments, not the other way around.

• You need your own nordic ski equipment. We welcome athletes with a range of gear and don't expect everyone to arrive with a full high-performance kit right away.

• You can adapt dryland practices based on what you have (e.g., run or cycle if you don't own roller skis). For on-snow, if you lack a technique-specific pair, you can substitute (skate for classic). We focus on effort and commitment, not gear.

We prioritize accessibility and work to keep your out-of-pocket costs minimal by subsidizing team operations.

Required Athlete Commitments:

1. Team Fee ($150 Annual): This fee covers team operating costs and gives you access to the team training log, coaching, facilities, and all subsidized support listed below.

2. Nakkertok Pass (~$140): Athletes must purchase a discounted Nakkertok membership to access our primary training trails.

3. Personal Ski Equipment: Athletes provide their own gear.

Team Support & Savings (What You Get):

The team heavily subsidizes your race and training season. Your commitment provides high-level, year-round support: 

• Coaching & Planning: Access to a year-round training plan with 4–5 coached sessions per week Sept-April. We use regular field testing to understand your individual fitness strengths and areas for improvement to tailor your training. We also use video analysis to help you improve your technique.  

• Training Log: Your fee includes an account for our team training platform. Use this to track and plan your workouts so coaches can monitor your progress and provide feedback.

• Performance Access: Use the High Performance Centre for year-round strength and conditioning. You also get priority access to sports therapy through the Ottawa Sports Medicine Clinic.

• Race Support: Full race support at key events, subsidies for some race entry fees, subsidies for travel and accommodation to select events. 

• Sponsorships: Access to discounts and support from team partners (The Cyclery, Apogee, Lululemon, XACT Nutrition), and Gee-Gees partners (Adidas).

• OUA Championship Bonus: Athletes selected for the Ontario University Championships Team (16-18 athletes) receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the championships. 

We use Nakkertok Nordic as our main training facility - it is a terrific facility with amazing trails,  excellent grooming, a chalet, lit trails for night skiing, waxing facilities, snowmaking (5 months on snow), and is largely run by dedicated volunteers. We also coordinate some practices with their racing team (ENRG), and some uOttawa Nordiq athletes are also part of ENRG.  ENRG offers personalized coaching and access to training camps and high level competitions and is an excellent option for some athletes (find out more about ENRG here-English or here-Francais.)   

• The National Capital region hosts many high level competitions (means less travel and costs for student athletes). 

• Diverse Racing Calendar: We participate in a variety of local, regional, and Canada Cup events, providing opportunities for all skill levels.

• OUA Championships: The team fully supports athletes competing at the Ontario University Championships.

• Subsidized Travel: Depending on fundraising, we subsidize travel and entry fees to select events (varies by year).

• ENRG Partnership: For athletes seeking more high-performance training and racing opportunities, we coordinate with the Equipe Nakkertok Racing Group (ENRG). You can compete for both uOttawa and ENRG.

• Team Race Trips: Athletes can also organize team race trips, and we'll assist with coordination and wax support.

Students must meet OUA/CCUNC (Canadian Colleges and Universities National Championships) eligiblity requirements to be on the uOttawa Gee-Gees team roster and to represent uOttawa at provincial and national championships (if you don’t meet these requirements but still want to train and compete with the team check in with uOttawaNordiq@gmail.com). The rules differ slightly for OUA vs CCUNC eligibility and are noted below. 

OUA. Students are eligible provided they are registered as "full-time" by the academic regulations of their respective institutions or enrolled in a minimum of three half courses (or the equivalent: 9 credit hours) in the term (semester) in which they are competing.

Nordic IS spelled with a "c" in English; the French version is nordique.  uOttawa Nordiq is a bilingual team, and we want our name to reflect this language diversity and uOttawa's bilingual mandate (uOttawa is the world's largest English-French bilingual university).  Veuillez nous excuser pour le manque actuel de contenu en français sur ce site. ... nous y travaillons !  La plupart de nos entraîneurs parlent français, alors n'hésitez pas à communiquer avec nous en français. 

Please fill out the Athlete Interest Form and a coach will get in touch with you.