It's been a good end to the 2024/25 campaign for Maya Mikkelsen, who landed on a podium twice at the Canadian Freestyle Championships in Whistler: second in individual moguls and a tie for first in dual moguls alongside her compatriot Sina Clegg. Mikkelsen is pleased with how the event unfolded, describing it as one where every athlete pushed each other hard in a good way.
Yet these results are just icing on the cake, for Mikkelsen has already locked down an overall Nor-Am circuit title. In other words, the local skier is bound for what will be her maiden World Cup season.
"I literally couldn't believe it when it first happened," she said. "It was my biggest goal for the season, and I can't believe I actually made it a reality. I'm just so excited to be able to know that I'm going to the World Cup next year. "
Mikkelsen has only placed outside of the top four three times in 2025 to date. She earned five Nor-Am medals, including gold in Val Saint-Côme, Que. and four silvers across Canada and the United States—and her peers are excited on her behalf.
"Obviously, we went through different programs…but she's an unreal rider, really dedicated to putting runs down and going hard," said reigning Canadian slopestyle champ Aidan Mulvihill. "It's super sick, and I'm super stoked for her."
'I'm just so excited'
Mikkelsen is part of a wave of homegrown freestyle talent. She grew up skiing with names like Maia Schwinghammer, Skye Clarke and Jessie Linton: a cohort that is beginning to make some serious noise at higher levels.
Schwinghammer is Canada's lead female moguls specialist who, in February, achieved her inaugural World Cup triumph. She followed that up with bronze at the World Championships and qualified for the 2026 Olympic Games in Italy.
Clarke has already advanced to the World Cup as a slopestyler and racked up a trio of top-15 results this year against elite opposition.
Linton is splitting her time between the World and Nor-Am levels at present. She finished fourth in moguls and fifth in dual moguls at Nationals.
"I'm just so excited to be able to go skiing with Maia and Jesse," remarked Mikkelsen. "We're here and we can all be together. It's just so fun for us because we've known each other for so long."
All excitement aside, the Freestyle Whistler alum has only participated in two World Cups to date. She knows that a tough spike in competition lies ahead, and plans to receive the challenge with open arms.
For more results from Nationals, click here.
