The Mini-CSM

This is a category designed for those who want to try out the event and gain some experience of the unique wilderness trail. The registration fee is discounted because skiers can only ski the last section of the day on either Saturday or Sunday

Individual Touring Categories

There is no requirement to complete all 10 sections in the touring categories. Most tourers set their own goals of a certain number of sections each day. Tourers may choose which sections they would like to ski, but they cannot start before 8.00 a.m. each morning. There are awards for individual tourers of various ages based on the number of sections they ski over the weekend.

Mighty Mite (for 8 years* and under): Gold – 3 sections; Silver – 2 sections; Bronze – 1 section.

Snowy Owl (for 9 to 12 years*): Gold – 5 sections; Silver – 4 sections; Bronze – 3 sections.

Lockeberg (for 13 to 16 years*): Gold – 6 sections; Silver – 5 sections; Bronze – 4 sections.

Johannsen (for 17 years* and older): Gold – 7 sections; Silver – 6 sections; Bronze – 5 sections.

(* all ages as of the date of the Saturday of the event)

Team Touring Categories

Participants can decide to team up with friends or family and try for one of several team awards, based on the number of sections skied by the team as a whole. Friendly competition is encouraged: e.g. the CSM will grant a five section bonus to the final result of a team if all of its members wear an identifiable team costume.

Corporate Touring Team – RA Ski Club Award: minimum of 12 skiers per team, results of best 20 skiers used to calculate awards.

Men's Veteran Team – Ottawa Ski Club Award: 4 men, 45 years and older.

Men's Team – Chateau Montebello Award: 4 men, any age.

Women's Veteran Team – Grey Mères Award: 4 women, 45 years and older.

Women's Team – Lachute Award: 4 women, any age.

Mixed Touring Team – Siren Award: 4 men and women, any age, at least one of each gender.

Mixed Senior Veteran Team – Jim Quarles Award: 4 men and women, 60 years and older, at least one of each gender.

Family Team – Celanese Award: 4 or more family members, any age, 4 best results (including the result of at least one parent).

Coureur de Bois

The Coureur de Bois (and the Junior Coureur de Bois, who must be accompanied by an adult CdB) is the category for skiers who wish to attempt the full distance of 160 kms over the two days. There are three sub-categories: bronze, silver and gold. Participants must achieve the bronze before the silver, and the silver before the gold. The Gold Coureur de Bois is the ultimate performance challenge as it means skiing the full distance with a backpack weighing not less than 5 kilograms, containing all the necessities for an overnight camping adventure, including food, sleeping bag, clothing etc. The campsite is near the midway point at Montebello, Québec.

The only amenities provided at the campsite are water, toilets, two bales of hay per skier and wood for a campfire. The Silver CdB must ski the full distance with a backpack of not less than 5 kg, but does not have to sleep outside. The Bronze CdB is not required to carry a backpack.

Although the CSM is not a race, skiers trying for the Coureur de Bois or the Half Marathon must complete the first four sections before 3.15 p.m. each day to be permitted to ski the final section of that day. Skiers who do not make this cutoff cannot earn their CdB or Half Marathon designation.

Skiers who complete the Gold CdB five times (one gold medal, plus 4 gold bars) earn a special gold bib with a permanent number attached to their name.

Special Awards

There are also special awards for particular individual achievements.

The Hat Trick Award is given to those who, within one calendar year, have completed: (1) the CSM as a Coureur de Bois; (2) any marathon in under 5 hours; and (3) any "double century" cycling tour, (two 100 mile or 160 km tours in two consecutive days) in an official event, e.g. the Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour.

There are two Hugh Blachford Memorial Trophies: one for the oldest successful male and one for the oldest successful female Coureur de Bois.

Silver Tips Awards are given to those skiers who are 65 years of age or older and who have skied 4 sections or more.

Weber Touring Trophy: any skier who skis a total of 50 sections over any number of years earns a special pink bib with their own permanent bib number. This award is designed to take a strong tourer at least 7 years, and recognizes their long term dedication to the CSM. The award is named after Hans and Meg Weber, who participated in 43 consecutive marathons from the first one in 1967 up to 2009.

There is also special recognition for the oldest and youngest males and females to earn an award.