Legend’s Path
Legend’s Path is the name used by the Gatineau Loppet to designate its hall of fame. The Legend’s Path honours individuals or organizations which have marked the Gatineau Loppet and who have helped develop or spread the word about the event or cross-country skiing in general. An individual or organization inducted in the Legend’s Path is recognized for its contribution as a participant, volunteer, sponsor, donor, ambassador or in any other way deemed acceptable by the Recognition and Loyalty Committee.
2025
LOUISE MARTINEAU (Women)
Louise Martineau is quite the athlete and cross-country skiing ambassador for the Gatineau Loppet, Quebec and Canada.
Since 1982, she has competed in 30 Gatineau Loppet events. She consistently ranks first or 2nd in her age category and, she has stood on the podium 10 times in all categories. It is exceptional.
She started cross-country skiing with her family at Mont-Comi in Rimouski at age 14 on wooden skis, did her first race in the rain, waxed with silver klister and definitely fell in love… with cross-country skiing in 1979 after completing her first 68 km loppet from Camp Mercier to Mont Ste-Anne with the Laval University Rouge et Or Club.
At the age of 30, Louise Martineau began competing at the World Masters Championships, several times finishing 3rd in individual or team races. An ambassador for Rossignol since 2000, she has completed 7 Worldloppet races with a 2nd position finish in Japan and multiple top 5 finishes in the other races. She has been participating in the Alex Harvey Classic for the past 3 years in her municipality of St-Féréol-les-Neiges, a bastion of cross-country skiing in Quebec.
This year, Louise is a member of the Primo Isolation-Demers-Pelco cross-country ski team, showing her desire to carry on with cross-country skiing trips.
She has volunteered extensively, including for Ski de fond Québec, Excellence Sportive Québec-Lévis and the Pentathlon des neiges de Québec.
She is a formidable triathlete, road, mountain and gravel cyclist and recipient of prestigious awards.
Louise is very grateful for all those who have helped her since her beginnings in cross-country skiing: Pierre Harvey, Gaétan Dubé, Mireille Belzile, Bernard Voyer, Louise Poirier, Lise Meloche, Chantal Métivier, Laurent Martel, Claude Laramée, Sheila Kealey and Michel Leblanc.
Louise Martineau is an accounting manager who lives happily with her husband Jean Coulombe. She passed on her passion for sports and the outdoors to her three children Mathieu, Vincent and Anne-Marie.
PHIL SHAW (Men)
Who is Phil Shaw?
Phil is first and foremost a great cross-country skier, who continues to perform at International cross-country Marathons every winter since 1988. It’s his most memorable meeting with Jackrabbit Johannsen on his 100th birthday in 1975 that Phil decided to follow in his footsteps; to ski every day.
And so, he has taken the starting line at the Gatineau Loppet close to 50 times and he’s a proud Ambassador for the event everywhere around the world. He racked up a number of podium finishes at the Gatineau Loppet and several exceptional positions in Europe. For example, he has already finished 45th at the Marcialonga in Italy, 101st at the Vasaloppet in Sweden and 29th at the Transjurassienne in France.
The 2025 Winter is lining up to be a record season for him, with a total of 6 Worldoppet races over 6 consecutive weekends, for a total of 546 km. To achieve his goals, Phil trains a lot on cross-country skis, of course, but mostly on all-terrain roller skis most of the year.
Phil is the CEO of Rollerski.ca. He distributes German and Italian products in the specific field of roller skiing (traditional and all-terrain). He has sponsored several editions of the Gatineau Loppet with his products (roller skis). He’s one of our precious sponsors and we are very grateful.
And if you ever pass through the Hautes-Laurentides in the Val-Morin/Ste-Agathe region before or after the cross-country skiing season, don’t be surprised to come across a roller skier on the 117 or in the streets with a colourful rucksack, dragging old skis or even a Christmas tree. That’s our Phil Shaw too! Don’t hesitate to honk – he’ll wave for sure!
THE CITY OF GATINEAU (Pillar – Partner)
City of Gatineau is the recipient of the prestigious Trail of Legends – anchor partner award of the 47th Gatineau Loppet.
Gatineau receives this recognition for its exceptional support of the Gatineau Loppet, both financially and by providing essential services. Secondly, because the City has always contributed to the development and promotion of cross-country skiing among its population.
It was in the early 90s that the former City of Hull first became involved as a partner of the then Gatineau 55. After the amalgamation into a larger city in 2001, City of Gatineau continued its partnership through its Events Office. Its Support Program to major events recognizes the international scope, uniqueness, territory enhancement and expertise of the Gatineau Loppet, Canada’s only Worldloppet member race.
We’re proud to hold the Gatineau Loppet in a city that supports cross-country skiing and makes our great sport accessible to its citizens through the loan of equipment and the maintenance of ski trails throughout its outdoor centers. Gatineau also boosts the local cross-country ski ecosystem, with solid partners such as the Gatineau Loppet, Gatineau Park, the Skinouk and Nakkertok cross-country ski clubs and the Gatineau Nordic Events organization. As a result, Gatineau can claim to be the cross-country ski capital of Canada.
In awarding the anchor partner title to the City of Gatineau, the Board of Directors and all the volunteers of the Gatineau Loppet wish to celebrate the 35 years of indefectible ties that unite us with the City, its politicians and its team at the Events Office.
Click here to discover the legends of past years.
Veterans Club
The Veterans Club recognizes participants who have taken part in at least 35 middle or long distance Gatineau Loppet races. If there are any among us who can tell the story of the Gatineau Loppet, it is them! By conferring upon them the title of “veteran”, the Gatineau Loppet thanks them for their tenacity and loyalty to the event.
2025
– Erik Grim (Pittsford, NY)
– Claude Laviollette(Ottawa, ON)
– Jacques Lemay(Val-des-Monts, QC)
– Cameron Mahon (Guelph, ON)
– Livain Michaud(Gatineau, QC)
– Éric Rouleau (Gatineau, QC)