Chris Klebl grew up alpine skiing and snowboarding in Austria. Participating in many other sports, he also competed in running and rowing in high school. A broken wrist caused him to narrowly miss the U.S. Junior National team for rowing. In 1995, Chris broke his back jumping off a cliff on his snowboard in Colorado. After a few years living in Kauai, Hawaii, and working as a massage therapist, he moved to California and worked in the Software industry where he started racing hand-cycles. After moving back to Colorado, a hand-cycling friend introduced him to sit-skiing, and three months after his first day on snow he raced his first World Cup.

After racing for six years where he competed in two Paralympics, and racked up more than one dozen IPC World Cup podiums, and 11 U.S. national titles, Chris moved to Canmore, Alta. to race for Canada. His two biggest accomplishments in Para-Nordic skiing are his two World Championship medals, including a gold in 2011. Chris looks forward to more great results, which he sees as a direct result of the much more comprehensive support that is available on the Para-Nordic Team in Canada. It is much more gratifying for Chris to be part of a group of dedicated professionals who are all working for the combined goal of high level international success. Chris was able to get on World Cup podiums for a number of years with minimal support, but the results somehow felt empty….not anymore since racing for Canada.

While he still contemplates what he’ll do after ski racing, Chris enjoys photography, travel and warm weather when not skiing.

For Chris’ full bio visit: http://www.cccski.com

The post Athlete Profile: Chris Klebl appeared first on Snow Sports Canada.

 

Mark Arendz is a 23-year-old student from the province of Prince Edward Island, and a member of the Canadian Para-Nordic Ski Team.  After making his Paralympic debut in 2010, Mark enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2010-11 where he finished second overall in the IPC World Cup standings after accumulating three gold medals, two silver and one bronze. He proved in 2012 he was not a one-season wonder, but is definitely one of the emerging leaders on the Canadian squad, after racking up two gold, one silver and three bronze medals at IPC World Cup races to finish second overall once again. Mark took things a step further during the pre-Paralympic season when he finished first overall on the IPC World Cup biathlon circuit for his category – a season highlighted by one gold and two bronze medals at the 2013 World Championships. Mark is now competing at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

Being competitive by nature, Mark took a liking to sports at a very young age. He began skiing in the backyard when he was about five years old.  After a farm accident where he lost his left arm, Mark began his competitive career in 2003 with the use of a ski prosthetic where he started racing in able-bodied competitions only.  His interest turned towards biathlon after watching the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City when he decided to give it a try.  The following winter he began rifle shooting, and soon was on the local cadet biathlon team.  Mark had great success with that team, setting record results at Nationals and becoming the first Island team to medal.

For Mark’s full bio visit: http://cccski.com

The post Athlete Profile: Mark Arendz appeared first on Snow Sports Canada.

Brian McKeever is one of Canada’s most-accomplished Paralympic athletes having racked up 13 medals in three trips to the Paralympic Winter Games, including ten gold. Teaming up with former guide, and brother Robin, Brian has won nearly everything on the table in Para-Nordic skiing. Brian has continued his tradition of winning with new guide and childhood friend, Erik Carleton. In 2010, Brian became the first athlete in the world to be named to the Olympic and Paralympic Teams. While Brian did not start in the Olympic races in Whistler, he went on to win three gold medals at the Paralympics. Brian has worked his way through the national program competing at all levels in both able-bodied and Para-Nordic skiing. He competed in his first World Championships in 2007 where he led the Canadians with a 21st-place finish in Sapporo, Japan. Prior to being diagnosed with Stargaard’s disease in 1998, Brian also represented Canada at the Junior World Championships in Pontresina, Switzerland.

It wasn’t only his father’s influence that shaped Brian’s life, but a rare genetic disease as well. Brian’s father and aunt suffered from Stargaard’s disease (macular degeneration or loss of central vision – fine detail and colour). Doctor’s had always told Brian that he may get the disease, but both his father and his aunt contracted the disease in elementary school. Brian felt that he may have beat the odds as he grew into his teens.

In 1998, Brian competed in the 1998 World Junior Championships, but by 1999 he was having trouble reading billboards from the car window. He had his eyes checked and was diagnosed with Stargaard’s disease. “The easiest way I can describe the feeling is that if you stared at the sun for a long time and turn away, you get these fuzzy spots. Well for me, the fuzzy spots don’t go away. It’s the loss of central vision. Sort of like a fuzzy blob in the middle of my vision. I always knew it was a possibility,” continues Brian. “But it wasn’t much of a transition because soon after I was diagnosed, the disabled team came knocking.”

For Brian’s full bio visit: http://www.cccski.com

The post Athlete Profile: Brian McKeever appeared first on Snow Sports Canada.

Para-Nordic skiing is the sport of cross-country skiing and biathlon for participants and athletes with a physical/intellectual impairment as defined by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). It is a sport which is accessible by all ages and abilities either individually or in a group setting. Cross Country Canada (CCC) supports and promotes Para-Nordic skiing at all levels consistent with our overall mission…” to develop and deliver programs designed to achieve international excellence in cross-country skiing.”

Para-Nordic skiing is organized and governed by the IPC at the international level and Canada follows IPC rules and regulations. The IPC defines all Para-sport as being for those with a primary impairment that belongs to one of  10 ‘eligible’ impairment types. Generally this means a physical impairment but athletes with an intellectual disability (ID) are now recognized by the IPC and some Para-sports have begun to integrate ID athletes into competition. Para-Nordic competition currently does not include categories for ID athletes. Competition for ID athletes is organized separately by the International Sports Federation for para-athletes with an Intellectual Disability. In Canada local grassroots programs may include ID skiers but once a skier gets to a certain level and wants formal programming or to begin competition they should follow the appropriate path for their disability.

“Para” comes from the Greek meaning (“beside” or “alongside”). The current use of the term stems from the Paralympics which refers to being the “parallel” Games to the Olympics. The word Paralympic may have originally been a combination of ‘paraplegic’ and ‘Olympic’, however with the inclusion of many different disability groups and the close association with the Olympic Movement, it now means a parallel Olympics to illustrate how the two movements exist side by side. The IPC does not formally use the term “Para-Nordic”. Canada has adopted the term which means “parallel” Nordic sport to indicate how it exists side by side with able-bodied Nordic sport.

Para-Nordic skiing includes both cross-country skiing and biathlon. In able-bodied skiing these two disciplines are governed by separate organizations with separate rules and competitions. In Para-Nordic they are both organized and governed by the IPC with integrated competitions and many of the same athletes participating and competing in both sports.

Para-Nordic skiing preview video from XCZone.tv:

)

The post Para-Nordic Skiing 101 appeared first on Snow Sports Canada.

A former prospect athlete who moved up to the national team in 2011 after forerunning at the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Winter Games, Luscombe has recorded eight top-10 finishes at IPC World Cup and world championship events since his first World Cup season (2012), and he became the men’s Canadian giant slalom champion in 2013. He had his leg amputated after contracting necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease) as a child and competes in the standing category. Luscombe, who calls Duncan, B.C. home, likes to road cycle in his spare time, and is known on the team for his sense of humour and flowing mullet.

For Braydon’s full bio visit: http://www.alpinecanada.org/athlete/luscombe

The post Athlete Profile: Braydon Luscombe appeared first on Snow Sports Canada.

One of the world’s most decorated para-alpine athletes, Williamson claimed his 100th IPC World Cup podium in 2011, and earned five more in 2013 during his first season back after a two-year absence due to injury. The oldest member of Canada’s national team at 41, Williamson competes in the visually impaired category with guide Robin Fémy. He is a veteran of three Paralympics and has more than a dozen IPC World Championship medals. When home in Toronto, Ont., Williamson balances skiing with a full-time job and spending time with his wife and children.

 

For Chris’ full bio visit: http://www.alpinecanada.org/athlete/williamson

The post Athlete Profile: Chris Williamson appeared first on Snow Sports Canada.

 

For Matt’s full bio visit: http://www.alpinecanada.org/athlete/hallat

The post Athlete Profile: Matt Hallat appeared first on Snow Sports Canada.

 

Since joining the team in 2011-12, Brousseau has recorded five top-10 finishes at IPC World Cup and world championship events. The sit-skier is regarded as one of the team’s stars of the future. Brousseau, from Terrace, B.C., injured himself in a 2007 snowboarding accident and quickly learned to transition to sit-skiing. He has 11 brothers and sisters and is a whitewater kayak instructor during the summer. He has previously gone off a 35-foot waterfall in his kayak.

 

For Caleb’s full bio visit: http://www.alpinecanada.org/athlete/brousseau 

The post Athlete Profile: Caleb Brousseau appeared first on Snow Sports Canada.

For Josh’s full bio visit: http://www.alpinecanada.org/athlete/dueck 

The post Athlete Profile: Josh Dueck appeared first on Snow Sports Canada.

For Mac’s full bio visit: http://www.alpinecanada.org/athlete/marcoux

The post Athlete Profile: Mac Marcoux appeared first on Snow Sports Canada.