Amelia Wells delivered a standout performance at the 97th Nordiq Canada Ski Nationals in Canmore, Alta, cementing her place as one of the country’s top young cross-country skiers.
The 22-year-old from Saanich brought home two gold medals and a silver at the event that ran from March 17 to 23.
“It was a really good weekend for racing,” Wells said. “It’s sort of my home ski area now because I’ve been living in Calgary for the last five years, so it was really nice to race in Canmore.”
That sense of comfort clearly translated to success on the trails, with Wells winning three of the four races she entered and finishing second in the other.
Growing up in Greater Victoria, Wells' path to the national stage started in a place not widely known for Nordic skiing.
“My parents really wanted me to learn how to ski,” Wells recalled. “We commuted from Victoria to Mount Washington just to do lessons when I was like four or five years old.”
That dedication paid off, as Wells stayed with the sport through the youth development program and into her high school years at Reynolds Secondary and the Canadian Sport School.
After high school, Wells moved to Calgary to pursue both skiing and academics.
While the University of Calgary doesn't offer a varsity cross-country ski program, she found her stride training with the Alberta World Cup Academy, a national training centre based in Canmore.
Now in her final semester working toward a bachelor of health sciences degree, Wells is at a turning point. With graduation just days away, she’s shifting her full focus to skiing.
“I want to continue doing school in the future,” Wells said, “But, with how skiing is as a sport, it’s difficult to pursue education at the same time. I’m taking a bit of a break and focusing on skiing for the next little while.”
That focus includes preparations for the upcoming Olympic trials in Prince George this December. Thanks to her Nationals performance, Wells has already qualified for next season’s World Cup circuit – but the Olympic trials fall during the same period.
“My main focus is trying to qualify for the Olympics next year,” she said. “I might go to a few early World Cup events, but I’ll likely return for the trials.”
The Olympic dream has been a long-held goal.
“I think I’ve always dreamt of it,” she said. “But only in the last few years have I realized it could actually become a reality.”
Whether or not her name is called for the 2026 Games, Wells is committed to competing at the highest level.
“There’s only one opportunity to qualify each year, and sometimes you don’t perform,” she said. “But I’m also looking forward to more World Cup races in the coming years, and doing my best to qualify for the Olympics whenever I get the chance.'
Surrounded by a strong cohort at the Alberta World Cup Academy, which she notes is one of the largest women’s teams in North America, Wells is clearly in good company as she chases the next phase of her career – on the snow and beyond.
