uOttawa Nordiq is Underway!

The uOttawa Nordiq ski team is off to a great start. From a student-run club last year, input and help from the Ottawa-Gatineau ski community has helped put a structured ski program in place. Ontario has a strong University racing circuit with many Varsity-level teams, and we are very close to putting a Gee-Gees team on this list =>


The team has committed coaches to help plan and run practices, a comprehensive training program, Ottawa-Gatineau's amazing training venues, and a governance structure that includes an impressive and knowledgeable external advisory committee. We have already started dryland workouts at pretty spectacular locations close to uOttawa, and some uOttawa Nordiq members just got back from a training camp and Climb to the Castle rollerski event in Lake Placid.

Last week we submitted an application to officially become part of the uOttawa Gee-Gees Sport Model. We have an excellent chance to become a Gee-Gees Competitive Club. In our application, we highlighted the following:

  • uOttawa Nordiq requires minimal resource investment for uOttawa

  • Our team has tremendous potential owing to the new coaching resources and organization, which will enhance our ability to attract future athletes and potential partners and sponsors

  • Our sport has significant health benefits and little risk

  • Our team has outstanding community support behind this Varsity Club initiative (summarized here).

  • Our team will promote this accessible winter sport and outdoor recreation to uOttawa students and community

  • Our strong social media & communications expertise will help promote the uOttawa Gee-Gees, and widely market the importance of varsity sport to students and universities (see website, twitter, instagram, facebook)

  • Our governance includes students, key members of the local ski community, and a respected external advisory board to ensure excellence and sustainability

  • Our team would allow uOttawa to excel in Ontario’s strong Varsity University nordic ski community

  • Our team has 2 female head coaches (uOttawa Gee-Gees drastically lacks female coach representation), and has equal male and female representation on the 2017-18 roster (currently 18 athletes)

Check back for more team updates, and please SHOW YOUR SUPPORT by following us on our social media networks!

uOttawa Nordiq Mission Statement

uOttawa Nordiq aims to provide uOttawa nordic skiers with an opportunity to stay involved in the sport and remain active through their university years. Our organized structured will lead to excellence in training and competition, and we are excited about outreach to promote winter fitness with an accessible activity like nordic skiing. We are also committed to widely marketing the importance of varsity sport to the university. With the help of the local nordic ski community, we aim to form a team that is recognized by uOttawa to represent uOttawa at local competitions, Provincial races, the Ontario University Championships, and Canadian Colleges and University Category at Cross Country Ski Nationals.