The Canadian long distance ski event Sovereign2Silvestar Ski Marathon in British Columbia becomes a new addition to the Visma Ski Classics Challengers series. It is the first Challengers event in Canada. The 42-kilometer course can be raced both in classic and skating technique. The classic event will take place on April 2, 2022, and the skating one on April 3, 2022.

A point to party race starts at Sovereign Lake Nordic Club and ends on the main street of SilverStar Mountain Resort. Flowing trails with approximately 800 meters of climbing, this course offers a challenge that is rewarded by great views and fabulous conditions. An area with an elevation over 1,500 meters is renowned for early snow and great late season snow.

Why did you want to join the Challengers series?

“Sovereign2SilverStar chose the Challengers series because it has the same requirement to provide a great experience to all skiers, creates an opportunity for skiers to earn points and improve their ranking for future wave selection, and join a global movement to enjoy snow in exotic places,” says Gerry Furseth, Communication Manager at Sovereign2SilverStar.

What are your expectations for being a part of the Visma Ski Classics family?

“Sovereign2SilverStar is a new destination loppet starting in Canada to showcase the Okanagan Valley and British Columbia in general to the world of Nordic Skiers.  We are hoping that many of our European friends will find the opportunity to come visit us and play in our backyard.”

Andy Newell, a four-time Olympican and Nordic ski coach, thinks highly of the area where Sovereign2SilverStar is taking place this winter, and he plans to be part of the experience.

“With some of the most scenic and challenging ski trails in North America, Sovereign Lake and SilverStar arethe ideal places for marathon racing. I have traveled to the area on several occasions for training camps, races, and early season snow and I’m always blown away by the grooming, trail systems, and welcoming ski culture. With their World Cup and NorAm experience Sovereign / SilverStar is an ideal venue for what will become one of North America’s premier skiing events. The thought of cozying up in one of their iconic ski chalets and competing in a point to point marathon is enough motivation for me to prioritize this event on my calendar. Sprinting to the finish line through SilverStar village is going to be epic!”

You can find more information about the event at https://www.sovereign2silverstar.com/home

All participants will be able to collect points for the SC ranking which they can check by signing up for free to MyPages. MyPages provides one common ranking for women and men, professionals and recreational skiers alike. 

Pro Team registered athletes can collect points for the Ski Classics Champion and Youth competitions in their respective gender.

A list of Challengers events with confirmed dates for season 2021/22 can be found at vismaskiclassics.com. The list will be updated continuously with new events.