When the Manitoba Winter Games take place in Thompson, toughness is as essential as talent.  Just ask sisters Sadie and Sawyer Harder of Winnipeg Gold, who brought their alpine ski north to the 55th parallel and discovered that racing fast is only half the battle. Racing in extreme cold is the other half.

Sadie, 13, and Sawyer, 12, have been skiing since they were three years old. Members of the Winnipeg Alpine Racers, they train primarily at Spring Hill Winter Park, honing their skills on the local slopes. While Sadie has a year of competitive racing under her belt, this season marks Sawyer’s introduction to higher-level competition, and both sisters share the same determination every time they click into their bindings.

The Games marked their first trip to Thompson, and what an introduction it was. The long drive north was their first hint that this competition would be different. As you move closer to the 55th parallel, winter settles in with authority.

Thompson has built a reputation around its cold. In fact, the city is home to two internationally recognized cold-weather test sites: GLACIER, where jet-engine turbines are pushed to their limits, and AREA_55, where major vehicle manufacturers test performance and durability. Companies come here for one simple reason: consistent cold. Thompson averages 222 days per year below zero and boasts over 100 days of snow cover annually. For nearly 30 years, jet engines, vehicles, snowmobiles, and snow blowers ( to name a few) have been put through rigorous trials in these conditions. If it can survive Thompson, it can survive almost anywhere.

For athletes, that same consistency means learning to perform when the cold bites back.

“It was really cold!” the girls admitted. 

Winnipeg certainly sees frigid temperatures, but not as frequently or as persistently as Thompson. On the first day of competition, the chill was so intense that racing in a traditional lightweight suit wasn’t an option. Instead, they layered up in full winter gear, sacrificing a bit of aerodynamics for essential warmth. 

By day two, temperatures eased just enough for them to compete in their race suits, but the cold was still a factor. The warming fire near the course quickly became a welcome gathering place between runs.

Competing in extreme cold requires more than physical preparation. Muscles tighten faster. Equipment responds differently. Even the simple act of waiting at the start demands focus and resilience. Yet these are challenges Manitoba athletes know well. From backyard rinks to ski hills, young competitors across the province grow up understanding that winter sport means embracing winter itself.

For Sawyer, one of the most powerful memories of the Games wasn’t about the temperature at all, in fact, it was watching her sister capture gold in the single pole event. She also cherished reconnecting with her cousin, who was coaching ringette at the Games. Sadie, meanwhile, proudly sported the team “swag,” embracing the sense of unity and pride that comes with representing Winnipeg Gold.

In Thompson, the cold tests everything; engines, machines, and athletes! This year, Sadie and Sawyer Harder proved they belong among those who not only endure it, but rise through it.