Canadian Ski Jumper Prioritises Long-Term Development Ahead of World Championships and Olympic Cycle
Canada’s Abigail Strate has opened the 2026 Summer Grand Prix ski jumping season with two top-10 finishes, signalling a positive start as Ski Jumping Canada begins a new Olympic quadrennial with its sights firmly set on long-term success rather than immediate results.
Competing in Wisła, Poland, the two-time Olympian from Calgary finished 10th in Saturday’s large hill event before improving to ninth place on Sunday. While the results offered encouragement, Strate and the Canadian coaching staff are placing greater emphasis on technical development and preparation for the winter season, when the sport’s biggest competitions take place.
Strong Opening Weekend in Poland
Strate scored 184.0 points in Saturday’s competition to secure 10th place before producing an impressive performance on Sunday. Her sixth-best jump in the final round lifted her to ninth overall with 205.4 points, providing a solid platform for the months ahead.
Despite the promising start, Strate stressed that this stage of the season is focused on refining her technique rather than chasing podium finishes.
“This summer the coaches and I are on the same page about taking things slower in training and really focusing on the details,” said Strate. “Competitions aren’t the priority (right now). We were even on the fence about whether I should compete at all but decided to treat it as a training camp on a different hill.
“We’re trying to have my best jumping happen in the winter, closer to the World Championships, so we’re not rushing anything. I knew I wasn’t coming in with the same form I had last summer, and I wasn’t trying to worry about that. It was more about testing the competition mindset and getting comfortable on a different hill.”
Canadian Team Continues Olympic Cycle Preparation
Maurer and VanWieren Gain Valuable International Experience
Calgary’s Nicole Maurer also represented Canada in the women’s competition, placing 22nd on Saturday with 143.9 points before finishing 28th on Sunday with 158.3 points.
Meanwhile, Tarik VanWieren was Canada’s sole representative in the men’s events. The Calgary athlete finished 41st in Saturday’s competition and 47th on Sunday while competing against a highly competitive international field.
The opening event of the Summer Grand Prix also showcased strong performances from Slovenia. Ema Klinec claimed victory in Saturday’s women’s event with 227.4 points, while fellow Slovenian Nika Vodan captured Sunday’s title after scoring 242.2 points.
Building on a Breakthrough Season
Patience Takes Priority Over Immediate Success
Strate entered the new campaign following her most successful Summer Grand Prix season to date in 2025, when she secured five podium finishes, including two victories.
Although those results naturally raised expectations, the 25-year-old believes maintaining patience throughout the summer programme will produce stronger performances during the winter campaign, particularly at the World Championships.
“I’ve always been a summer person. I like the sun and I’ve always liked jumping in the summer,” said Strate, who is also a graphic designer.
“It’s hard not to have expectations after last season, but I’m trying to trust the process and trust that I’ll be jumping at my best when it matters most. We had high hopes this weekend, but not high expectations. We’ll keep focusing on training and hopefully keep getting better as we move toward winter. It was nice to be back in that competitive environment.”
Summer Circuit Plays Key Role in Athlete Development
Summer ski jumping enables athletes to train and compete year-round using porcelain in-run tracks combined with water-soaked plastic landing surfaces that replicate winter conditions.
The Summer Grand Prix has become an important part of athlete development, with men’s competitions introduced in 1994 and women’s events joining the international calendar in 2012. The series allows competitors to refine technique and build consistency before the winter World Cup season begins.
Large hill competitions are contested on venues with a hill size of approximately 120 metres, while normal hill events are typically staged on hills measuring around 90 metres.
For Ski Jumping Canada, the opening weekend in Poland offered encouraging signs as athletes begin the journey toward another Olympic cycle. While immediate results remain secondary, Strate’s strong performances and the valuable international experience gained by the broader Canadian squad provide a positive foundation as preparations continue for the winter season and the sport’s major international championships.