Full Athlete Development – Academy Training Camps
ACADEMY MASTERS PREP CAMP
HOST: Alberta World Cup Academy
LOCATION: Canmore, Alberta – Canmore Nordic Centre
DATES: January 15th – January 17th, 2027
CAMP CAPACITY: 12 master athletes maximum, first come first serve registration.
WHO: Any Masters athletes looking for technical refinement, education on training methodologies, race tactics and preparation and more! We will discuss and focus on training for loppets and events like Masters World Cups, the Canadian Birkebeiner, and Ski Classics.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: December 21st, 2026
ENTRY FEES: 1,500$
Includes:
- Five training sessions – coached by AWCA’s Robin McKeever, Jouni Pitkanen, and Nikki Gilman.
- Five educational seminars/presentations by the Alberta World Cup Academy staff, including AWCA head wax tech, Tim Wintoniw.
- Catered Dinner Friday and Saturday nights.
- Exclusive Academy headwear.
- Exclusive Academy Training Shirt
WESTERN CANADA JUNIOR CAMP
Summer 2027 – Date tbd.
For U18 and U20 athletes.
ENTRY FEES: 300$ Per athlete – Includes six training sessions, and three educational seminars/presentations by Alberta World Cup Academy coaching staff.
COACHES: Please contact us if you would like to attend as a coach alongside your athletes as a professional development opportunity. Coach attendance fee is 100$.
2026 CAMP INFO – For Reference only
We offer year-round programming as well as summer programming for athletes training individually or with other clubs / training centres.
Application Deadline for full program: Spring 2027 | Application Deadline for Summer program: Spring 2027
Coaching and Consultants
NIKKI GILMAN – PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Nikki will be leading all athlete program for the 2026- 27 season. About to embark on her third year with the Academy, Nikki brings a tremendous enthusiasm for athlete development to go along with her wealth of experience.
Hometown: Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin, USA
Years with the Academy: 5th year
Education: BS in Exercise Physiology and BA in Philosophy from The College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN.
Coaching Background:Bogus Basin Nordic Team (Boise, ID) Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (Sun Valley, ID) Kimberley Nordic Club (Kimberley, BC).
JOUNI PITKÄNEN – HIGH PERFORMANCE COACH
Grew up in Toivala, Finland
Education: BS in Sports Studies
Coaching Background:Finnish U18 National Team, Development coach / assistant coach oly at Nordiq Canada
ROBIN MCKEEVER – HIGH PERFORMANCE COACH
Grew up in Canmore, AB
Years with the Academy: 3rd year
Coaching Background: ChPC 17 years, National Team coach PLY & OLY 4 years, Head coach Foothills Nordic Ski Club
Awards:
– Canadian Governor General, Meritorious Service Medal (Civil) 2016
– 2 x Tim Frick Canadian Coach of the YEar Award (2018, 2022)
– Inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame
ACADEMY SUPPORT TEAM
Tim Wintoniw – Head Wax Tech
Originally hailing from Manitoba, and one of the co-founders of Downtown Nordic, Tim has been a wax tech with AWCA since 2013. Currently living in Kimberley, British Columbia, Tim has done waxing tours with Biathlon Canada as well as Nordiq Canada. Most recently Tim was one of the commentators for the 2023 FIS Jr and U23 World Championships.
Ian Duffern – Support Wax Tech
Ian Daffern is the head ski technician for the Canadian Para-nordic team. He has been to five Paralympic Games with the team starting in Salt Lake City and continuing all the way to the Winter Paralympics this past March in PyeongChang. He oversaw the skis for the 14 athletes who won a record 16 medals including 4 gold medals in cross country skiing but more importantly 1 in biathlon! Ian is helping out the academy team, coaches and techs whenever he can!
University of Calgary Sports Medicine Centre
We continue to partner with the University of Calgary Sports Medecine Centre. Athletes attending our program and attending the University of Calgary are provided with timely services when medical concerns arise.
Canadian Sport Institute (CSI) Calgary
As a national team development centre, we are partnered with the CSI in Calgary to help us deliver support via the most up to date sport science in Canada and the world. All our testing is conducted by the CSI as well as most of our IST services: psychology, nutrition, physiotherapy, osteopathy, sport medicine. These services can be coordinated by Chris Jeffries on a cost recovery basis.
Judy and Mike Mappin – Canmore Nordic Sport Services
Judy and Mike have been working on and off with the team in the ski service side since the early days of the Academy. Both are equally passionate about their own training and racing pursuits as they are about fast skis. With the help of The Grinders in Canmore, Judy and Mike have had a big impact on our team with ski identification and selection, as they help our skiers manage their ski fleets. This is tireless work that begins in the spring and continues through the early winter season as they help our team make sense of this complex and always changing technical area.
Do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions: ngilman@albertaworldcup.com or academy@albertaworldcup.com
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