Young athletes from Adanac Ski Club and Elliot Lake Ski Racers delivered strong performances at a mid-January ski racing weekend in Collingwood. The event at Osler Bluff featured giant slalom and slalom competitions, where several Northern Ontario District team members secured top-10 finishes. This success highlights a resurgence in regional alpine skiing talent.
The alpine skiing scene in Northern Ontario is experiencing a notable upswing, driven by robust youth participation. In mid-January, competitors from the Adanac Ski Club in Sudbury and the Elliot Lake Ski Racers traveled to the Collingwood area for a weekend of races hosted at Osler Bluff. These events included giant slalom on Saturday and slalom the following day, drawing fields of over 100 participants each.
From a Sudbury perspective, standout results came from both genders. In the men's giant slalom, Evan Ayers of Elliot Lake claimed first place with a combined time of 1:09.26, while Mauro Frescura took third at 1:10.08. Other strong showings included Elliot St. Onge Winckel in seventh, Jackson Jost-Noob in eighth, Joe Zito in ninth, and Cael Mannella in tenth. On the women's side, Ella Prosperi of Adanac finished third in giant slalom at 1:11.77, with Anna Corsi seventh at 1:14.61 and Rebecca Jutras eighth at 1:14.95.
The slalom events continued the momentum. Mauro Frescura earned second in the men's race with 1:08.61, followed by Evan Ayers in third at 1:09.67. For women, Ella Prosperi placed fourth at 1:14.27, Rebecca Jutras fifth at 1:18.32, and Anna Corsi sixth at 1:18.72. Additional top-10 finishes went to Malin Hunt ninth and Emily Massimiliano tenth in women's slalom, and Joe Zito seventh, Cael Mannella eighth in men's.
These athletes are part of the revived Northern Ontario District team, comprising about 38 young skiers who attended an early-season camp in Alberta before Christmas. Adanac Ski Club head coach Dave Hunt praised the group's efforts, stating, “We are punching above our weight when we are competing against the province.” He noted the challenges of limited venues in the region compared to provinces like British Columbia or Quebec, yet emphasized collaborative training to build comfort among the kids.
Looking ahead, many of these skiers, including Ella Prosperi, Anna Corsi, Evan Ayers, and Mauro Frescura, are set to compete at the 2026 Ontario Winter Games in Orillia. Regional events like the upcoming Mealey Classic Invitational at Searchmont in Sault Ste. Marie will provide further opportunities, alongside provincial championships and potential national challenges.
