Manor Park resident captures bronze medal at Masters World Cup

It’s a second international cross-country skiing medal for Christa Ramonat  

It’s a long way to travel for a couple of hours of skiing. The result, however, made the excursion to Europe more than worthwhile for Christa Ramonat. 

The long-time Manor Park resident captured a bronze medal in the Women’s 5K ‘classic technique’ cross-country ski race at the 2025 Masters World Cup in Klosters, Switzerland. The grandmother of two posted an impressive time of 19:25.2. She edged out Karen Mina Clasen of Denmark by 1.4 seconds for the podium finish. 

“I was really lucky, it’s not easy to win a medal like that,” a humble Christa told the Chronicle in a recent interview. “It’s neat to win a world medal, it feels like the Olympics.”

Her race took place on March 10 and featured dozens of participants in her age category from all over the world. The gold medalist was from Finland with an American taking second. 

Christa explains the Masters World Championships are held in a different country each year. “It’s basically Olympics for older people,” she said with a smile. 

Memorable ceremony

The medal ceremony was particularly memorable, Christa says, with her name and the Canadian flag being posted on a large screen on stage behind the podium. After receiving her medal, she then joined the winner up on the top platform for photos. 

“What they do now, it’s considered polite for the gold (medal winner) to invite the bronze and silver up to stand together … so that was kind of neat.”

Christa also skied in the 10K event on March 11, completing the course in just over 41 minutes and 42 seconds for a fourth-place finish.

This was the second time she has medaled at the World Masters. She also had a podium finish when the event was held in Quebec City in 2002. 

Skiing part of life

Christa says skiing, both downhill and cross country, has been part of her life since she was a toddler. 

“When I was little, my father gave me the choice of skiing or skating, and I had to pick one. It just became a habit I don’t even think about.”

Her father was a nuclear physicist, working in Deep River, but he was also a ski instructor. It’s a sport Christa has shared with her own children as well as her community of Manor Park, where she gives lessons. 

“I think it’s just been engrained into my life.” 

Time for touring

While overseas with her husband Roger, Christa says they took time to visit various European cities. Highlights included some downhill skiing in the Alps, a visit to the Steiff teddy bear factory, viewing the Lipizzaner horses and taking in a concert in Vienna, Austria.

“We thought since we were there, we should tour around,” she said. 

Most memorable, however, will be the medal-winning race in the picturesque mountain village of Klosters, just north of Davos.