Canadian athletes will debut Nagano skinsuits on home ice this fall in Vancouver and Montreal
OTTAWA, ONTARIO – Speed Skating Canada has signed a new partnership with Quebec-based clothing and equipment experts Nagano to manufacture skinsuits for Canada’s national short track program. The four-year agreement will run until the conclusion of the 2030 Olympic Winter Games in the French Alps.
As part of the new partnership, Nagano will supply athletes within the short track high-performance program with custom-fitted skinsuits for use across national and international competitions. Athletes will be provided with a newly developed cut proof base layer featuring the company’s exclusive DiamondDust technology, as well as PRO AERO Lycra and PRO AERO Rubber suits, some of the lightest and most aerodynamic products on the market.
In addition to skinsuits, Nagano will also provide Canada’s top short track and long track speed skaters with a selection of professional quality helmets for use during the season.
Joe Morissette, Chief Executive Officer, Speed Skating Canada“We are thrilled to expand our longstanding relationship with Nagano through this new short track skinsuit partnership. As a Canadian company founded by former Olympic speed skaters, Nagano brings a deep understanding of our sport and a proven commitment to innovation, performance, and athlete safety. This collaboration will ensure our National Program athletes have access to world-class suits as they prepare to compete on the national and international stage throughout the next Olympic cycle. We are proud to continue working together to support Canadian sport track speed skating excellence.”
Founded in 2016 by Olympic champions Éric Bédard and François Drolet, Nagano has established itself as a global leader in the design of sports equipment and custom technical clothing. With expertise rooted in speed skating, the company began developing cutting-edge sharpening and profiling products, before expanding to cover all skating equipment, including aerodynamic and cut-resistant fabrics that have since been adopted across high-risk sports such as hockey, alpine skiing, bobsleigh, luge, motocross, karting, and more.
This newly announced partnership brings the world’s top short track program – winner of all three ISU Crystal Globes during the 2025-26 season – under the Nagano umbrella and expands the company’s footprint in the international scene. Nagano already designs and manufactures skinsuits and apparel for several other national teams, including France and Great Britain.
Éric Bédard, Academy and Team Apparel Director, Nagano“I had the privilege of representing Canada for over a decade, so it is with immense pride that I now see Nagano contribute to the identity of Team Canada. For me, this partnership goes well beyond the creation of a skin suit; it represents a way to give back to the sport that has given me so much. We now have the opportunity to collaborate with Speed Skating Canada to push the limits of excellence. Every detail of these suits was thought through to respond to athlete needs, all while incorporating innovation and Canadian identity. It is a great honour to see our products on the international stage and accompany a new generation of Canadian athletes in their pursuit of performance and self-improvement.”
Since 2024, Nagano has also been tasked with managing Speed Skating Canada’s merchandising program, selling branded clothing and accessories – including limited-edition collections from William Dandjinou and Florence Brunelle – through kiosks at national and international events, as well as online via shop.speedskating.ca.
Canadian speed skating fans will have the opportunity to see the new short track skinsuits in action on home ice during the first two ISU Short Track World Tour stops of the season this fall in Vancouver (October 23-25) and Montreal (October 30-November 1). Ticketing details can be found at www.speedskating.ca/tickets.
About Speed Skating Canada
Speed Skating Canada is the national governing body responsible for the organization, coordination and administration of both short track and long track speed skating in Canada. Founded in 1887, we proudly represent over 14,500 athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers from coast to coast. Our non-profit organization is accountable to our 13 provincial and territorial speed skating organizations (PTSOs) and our national team program. We’re here to rally, inspire and lead the charge for our country’s most successful Olympic sport.
About Nagano
Founded in 2016 by Olympic medalists, Nagano has established itself as a global leader in the design of sports equipment and custom technical clothing. Our expertise was rooted in speed skating, where we developed cutting-edge sharpening and profiling products, before expanding to cover all skating equipment, including performance and cut-resistant fabrics that have since been adopted across high-risk sports such as hockey, alpine skiing, bobsleigh, luge, motocross, karting, and more. Thanks to our expertise in sublimation, we have mastered the art of integrating technical and cut-resistant fabrics to create comfortable and aerodynamic pieces suitable for both Olympic athletes and club athletes. Our products are developed by elite athletes based on real feedback from those who are on the field and have been testing our products for years. We also operate the Nagano Academy, which offers speed skating training camps in Canada and Europe to more than 1000 participants every year, allowing us to share our knowledge, expertise and contribute to the development of the next generation of young athletes.