Amila Andrews and Casey Bernardin have been skiing since their childhood. (Image Credit: Submitted photo/Gabe Andrews)

By Derek Cornet

nationals

Local teens return from premiere skiing competition in Quebec

Mar 17, 2026 | 2:13 PM

Two Grade 9 students from La Ronge’s Churchill Community High School have returned from an International Ski and Snowboard Federation sanctioned event at Quebec’s Mont-Sainte-Anne.  

Amila Andrews and Casey Bernardin attended the Nordiq Canada Ski Nationals, a premier event which brings together more than 700 of the best athletes from across the country. It was held March 9 to 14, and the teens prepared for many months to be ready for it.  

They both competed in a team relay, 10-kilometer skate, five-km classic and the skate sprint events.  

“I felt really good. I think those were my best races of the year. My results weren’t great, but I felt good,” Andrews explained.  

“I raced more people at this event than I have at any other race I’ve gone to.” 

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Bernardin noted she is also happy with her performance.  

“I think I did pretty good [considering] I’m from a small town. I definitely put it all out for nationals,” she said. 

“This is a really big thing I have been training for all summer and winter to get all the points to go. It was really fun.” 

Both girls have been skiing since their childhood and it was the first time either of them had attended an event so large. They were able to witness some world-class athletes in action, including Sonjaa Schmidt who was part of Canada’s 2026 Olympic team.  

Both teens also talked about how it was rewarding experience to travel and compete with one another.  

“Because we knew each other, we had each other to talk to and hang out with the whole week. It was just a lot of fun,” Andrews said. 

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com