In a world where differences often make headlines, it’s easy to forget how much people on both sides of a border can have in common. But those who’ve shared friendships, partnerships, and moments of inspiration across nations know that mutual respect and understanding can run deep.
That’s especially true among elite athletes. Their dedication to excellence and deep-rooted sense of sportsmanship often transcend national lines. Through their pursuit of greatness, they build connections that reflect the best of humanity—respect, courage, and unity.
Here in Lake Placid, NY—a community steeped in Olympic history and the values of sport as a force for good—those ideals remain as strong as ever. With a record number of World Cups and international championships on the horizon, the village will once again welcome the world, including many of Canada’s finest athletes.
As they arrive to compete across a variety of disciplines, residents and visitors alike will celebrate not just athletic skill, but also the enduring spirit of camaraderie and shared aspiration that defines the Olympic movement.
Highlights of our upcoming 2025-2026 schedule with Canadian athletes to watch in the Olympic Village of Lake Placid:
Collegiate Women’s Hockey Series between Canada and the U.S. – August 13-16
Hosted at our Olympic Center in downtown Lake Placid, Canada and the USA women’s teams will face off in this year’s Collegiate Series. The hockey rivalry between the two countries is a passionate one. Yet as a result of teams and programs in both countries having done so much to promote and grow the sport, mutual respect prevails, and the friendliness of the competition always perseveres.
This series provides high-level visibility for women’s hockey and showcases the best players in the world in advance of the 2026 Olympic Games coming up this winter. Plus, three Canadian athletes were just named to this year’s USA Hockey Women’s National Festival roster. Tickets will soon be made available on the Olympic Center website.
WHOOP UCI Mountain Biking World Series – October 3-5
The Cross-Country, Short-Track and Marathon events debuted last fall at Mt Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid, and this year, the three-day event is supercharged with the thrilling additional debut of the Downhill World Cup at nearby Whiteface Mountain. With Canadian athletes excelling on this world stage this season, everyone is excited to see the team here in the Adirondacks in this high-octane blur of mud, muscle, and adrenaline.
Here are some of Canada’s best riders coming to Lake Placid in October:
Jackson Goldstone is on the trail to greatness, having won his first Elite Men’s World Cup Downhill race in Loudenvielle, France this season. This year already Jackson has six total wins and 8 podium places to date.
Gracey Hemstreet is another top Canadian downhill racer who also won her first Elite Women’s World Cup win in Loudenvielle. She now has four wins and 11 podium placements already this season.
Isabella Holmgren is another prominent name, having won last year’s U23 UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup right here in Lake Placid.
Gunnar Holmgren is Isabella’s brother and is also a key rider to watch in the Cross-Country (XCO) category.
This will be an epic weekend of racing in addition to many other onsite festivities. Event details and tickets are available here on the Mt Van Hoevenberg website.
ISU Skate America – November 14-16
Hosted at the historic Olympic Center in downtown Lake Placid, Skate America is one of the most prestigious international figure skating events, featuring the world’s best skaters, including these especially notable Canadians:
Women’s Singles: Madeline Schizas and Sara-Maude Dupuis.
Men’s Singles: Roman Sadovsky, Aleksa Rakic, and Stephen Gogolev.
Pairs: Kelly Ann Laurin & Loucas Éthier, Lia Pereira & Trennt Michaud, and Deanna Stellato-Dudek & Maxime Deschamps will also be representing Canada.
Ice Dance: Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier, and Marjorie Lajoie & Zachary Lagha are among the Canadian ice dance teams competing.
The ISU Skate America event began in Lake Placid in 1979, and this year marks the sixth time it has returned. This one will be especially significant, given its proximity to the upcoming Winter Games. Event details and tickets are available here on the Olympic Center website.
FIL Luge World Cup – December 19-20
At this thrilling pursuit of the podium in Lake Placid in advance of the Olympic Games just weeks later, these are the key Canadian competitors taking to this world stage:
Women’s Singles: Caitlin Nash, part of the first women’s doubles team to ever compete at the World Cup level, is making the bold move of switching to singles this season in advance of the 2026 Olympics. Other Canadian women’s singles luge athletes are Embyr-Lee Susko and Carolyn Maxwell.
Women’s Doubles: Beattie Podulsky and Kailey Allan.
Mixed Singles: Trinity Ellis and Dylan Morse, and Theo Downey and Embyr-Lee Susko.
Men’s Doubles: Devin Wardrope and Cole Zajanski.
Mt Van Hoevenberg features the most technically challenging track in the world, making World Cup events here always thrilling for both athletes and spectators alike. Access to the full length of the track puts the action so close for spectators, they can almost feel the sleds woosh by at high speeds. Plus, the spacious and comfortable Mountain Pass Lodge is always there to warm up, relax, and grab a delicious bite to eat. Details and tickets will soon be available here on the Mt Van Hoevenberg website.
International Biathlon Union (IBU) Cup – February 23-March 8, 2026
This will be a captivating event that combines the physical demands of cross-country skiing with the precision of rifle shooting, demanding both speed and accuracy. A large field on international stars will be on hand, including these top athletes from the Canadian National Team: Nadio Moser, Benita Peiffer, Pascale Paradis, and Adam Runnalls.
The world class biathlon stadium just outside Mt Van Hoevenberg’s Mountain Pass Lodge provides easy access to viewing opportunities near the shooting range and on the trails. Event details and tickets will soon be available here on the Mt Van Hoevenberg website.
FIS Cross-Country World Cup Finals – March 19-22, 2026
The eyes of the Nordic skiing world will be on Mt Van Hoevenberg when Lake Placid hosts the 2025 FIS Cross-Country World Cup Finals. The athletes will be hot off the Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina, and these top A-Team competitors from Canada will be among those to watch: Antoine Cyr, Derek Deuling, Graham Ritchie, Katherine Stewart-Jones, Olivier Léveillé, Sonjaa Schmidt, and Xavier McKeever.
With outstanding, easy to access trails, a high-energy stadium atmosphere, and fans packed along every turn and climb, this finale promises to be a pulse-pounding celebration of elite competition and winter sport excellence. Event details and tickets will soon be available here on the Mt Van Hoevenberg website.
This exciting lineup of international events marks a new chapter for Lake Placid, where our rich Olympic legacy continues to grow in the heart of the Adirondacks. That legacy is carried forward by the dedication of the Olympic Authority and the Lake Placid community, who remain committed to hosting world-class competitions that celebrate athletic excellence, sportsmanship, and connection across cultures.
As we welcome athletes and spectators from Canada and around the world, we honor the spirit of friendly competition and the shared experiences that bring people together through sport. With each event, we continue a long tradition of blending sport with culture, education, and community—pursuing our best, both on and off the field.