Yukon Ski Championships Ignite Competition on Fresh Course

Skiers from the Yukon and Alaska gathered at the Whitehorse Nordic Centre on February 7, 2026, for the highly anticipated Yukon Ski Championships. The event showcased a series of mass-start races, featuring competitors from the U14 level to Masters, with race distances varying from five to 15 kilometres and elevation gains reaching up to 196 metres. Fresh snow and light flurries created a vibrant atmosphere for the athletes as they took to the course.

In the U14 girls’ five-kilometre race, Abby Fry of Whitehorse finished first with a time of 23:36.2. Fry, the previous year’s U14 champion, had competed over a shorter distance of 3.25 kilometres in 2025. In the U14 boys’ category, Erik Embacher also secured a repeat victory, crossing the finish line at 18:30.4, mirroring his success from the previous year.

The U16 boys’ 10-kilometre event saw Sitka Land-Gillis rise to the top with a winning time of 32:26.1. Land-Gillis had previously placed third in the 2025 U16 boys’ 7.5-kilometre race. Meanwhile, Heron Land-Gillis triumphed in the U18 boys’ 15-kilometre race, completing the course in 46:34.7. This win followed his victory in the 2025 U18 category, where he finished the two-lap event in 43:47.8.

In the U18 girls’ 15-kilometre race, Aramintha Bradford led the field with a time of 51:04.2, improving on her second-place finish from the previous year, where she was just 0.3 seconds behind the winner.

The senior divisions featured strong performances as well. Melia Lu Trousil from Juneau completed the women’s 15-kilometre race uncontested, finishing in 1:32:02.2. In the men’s race, Caelan Pangman McLean of Whitehorse claimed victory with a time of 51:04.3.

The Masters categories showcased experienced competitors, where Adrienne Dunbar won the women’s 15-kilometre race in 59:42.4. Last year’s Masters champion, Laura Salmon, finished second with a time of 1:02:14.0. In the Masters men’s race, Ragnar Robinson took home the title, finishing in 51:37.0, while the previous year’s champion, Jean-Paul Molgat, did not participate this time.

The 2026 Yukon Ski Championships demonstrated the skill and determination of local and regional athletes, setting a strong precedent for future competitions. With fresh snow enhancing the racing conditions, the event was a testament to the vibrant skiing community in the Yukon.