Erik Embacher learned to ski before he could tie his boots.
At one and a half years old, he was already sliding down trails at the Whitehorse Nordic Centre, chasing speed, cold air, and eventually competition. Years later, he’s preparing to race for Team Yukon in cross-country skiing at the 2026 Arctic Winter Games.
The races are bigger now, but the goal hasn’t changed: push hard, finish strong, and share the moment with his family cheering him on. Because in the North, no athlete competes alone. Every start line carries a community with it.
Training in the North looks different. Cold weather, technical terrain, fewer races, and smaller competition pools are part of everyday life. But those conditions don’t hold athletes back, they prepare them for the moments that matter.
Steep hills build balance. Tough days build patience. Encouragement builds belief. And when competition finally comes, that preparation shows.
His proudest results come from pushing through that environment. After one of his strongest races, he remembers feeling proud and relieved at the same time.
After a race, Erik is most excited to connect with the people who helped him get there, sharing the results right away with family and friends, whether they’re in the stands or following from home.
Like Erik , for many athletes the journey starts years before their first major race, on familiar neighbourhood trails.
That’s why Northwestel is proud to sponsor the Whitehorse Nordic Centre youth ski programs, including the Jackrabbit, Bunny, and Snowshoe Hare programs. Each season, hundreds of young skiers take their first glide forward, supported by coaches, volunteers, and a community that wants them to succeed.
Erik is also part of Cross-Country Yukon’s Squad Program, a competitive development stream that has been central to his growth as an athlete. Accessible, affordable, and low barrier, it’s the kind of program that has long produced Yukon Olympians in cross-country skiing. He wouldn’t be where he is today without it.
Jen MacKeigan, assistant coordinator and coach for Cross Country Yukon, sees how those early experiences shape future competitors.
She reminds young athletes that progress matters more than placement. Perseverance, effort, and pride in the finish line are what keep kids coming back and believing they belong in the sport.
Erik shares the same message with new skiers: “Always be positive and have fun. Having fun helps you feel happier and more confident.”
The Arctic Winter Games are a milestone along a path that starts with a first glide on local snow and grows into the confidence to stand on the start line at major competitions.
Training in the North doesn’t stop at the trailhead. Athletes check schedules, review workouts, and stay consistent through long winters using technology that keeps them moving forward even when conditions change.
Apps like TeamSnap, Training Peaks, and Nordic Ski Pulse help Erik and his teammates track sessions, adjust plans, and train independently between practices. Nordic Ski Pulse, widely used across Yukon communities, gives athletes and coaches real-time trail condition updates so they always know what they’re heading into.
For coaches like MacKeigan, technology is a powerful teaching tool. Using video analysis apps, she can pause a stride mid-motion, draw angles on the screen, and show athletes exactly where they can improve.
When the 2026 Arctic Winter Games arrive, that real-time connection remains just as important.
At this year’s Games, through Northwestel’s network, athletes can share results instantly, stay connected with friends and family across the North, and let their communities follow every moment as it happens.
The Arctic Winter Games are about becoming the athlete you hoped you could be.
For Erik , the race is one moment in a much longer story. Every stride carries early mornings, cold practices, and the people who never stopped encouraging him.
Across the North, young athletes will be watching his race and believing they can be northern champions too.
Northwestel is proud to support that journey from local programs to the Arctic Winter Games, helping athletes stay connected to their communities and to what motivates them most. Because strong networks support strong communities, and strong communities raise confident athletes.
In the North, the future is already here. You can see it in our northern champions skiing down the trail.
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Northwestel is proud to serve 97 northern communities, each with a rich and unique Indigenous history, culture, and identity. We exist to help ignite the power of these First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities through the very best communications technology and services. We are committed to doing so in true partnership and consultation with Indigenous governments and other Northern Indigenous partners in a way that creates shared benefits for people in the North.
