BC Athletes Attend World Para-Nordic Skiing (WPNS) Sanctioned Races

Three members of the BC Para-Nordic Team recently attended WPNS sanctioned races at Mt Shark, Alberta.  Mount Shark was chosen as the race location to simulate the altitude racers will be experiencing at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. 

At this event Andy Lin, Ethan Hess and Leo Sammarelli, all from the Nordic Racers Ski Club of Vancouver, competed against the National Para-Nordic Team and Next Gen Para-Nordic athletes for the purpose of gaining additional quota spots for Canada at the Paralympics.  This was also the only opportunity this season for domestic athletes to gain invaluable race experience and World Cup points in order to secure funding and support from Canada’s NextGen program for the coming season.

Canada gains one more quota spot at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games for every athlete whose results are less than 180 WPNS points average over three races.  There were four races: 800m skate, 7.5k classic, 10k skate (this event was for standing skiers only), and 2.5k classic.  Andy, Ethan, and Leo competed in all these races.

Notable unofficial results include Andy scoring 98 points in the 800m event, Ethan scoring 121 points in the 2.5k event, and Leo scoring 199 points in the 2.5k event. Tentatively, BC gained 1 more quota spot for Canada. Official results will be confirmed in late April.