Sit Ski Accessibility Initiative

The Cause

The sleds will be used for Alberta ski clubs that need sleds for new Para Nordic participants or at “try-it” events. This will help Alberta clubs to bolster participant recruitment and offer more Para Nordic skiing within their own communities.

The sleds will also serve as a catalyst for new Para Nordic skiers from across Canada who require sleds when visiting the Canmore Nordic Center for training or the development camp.

These sleds will also play a pivotal role in our annual Development Camps held each fall in Canmore. These camps offer aspiring Para Nordic athletes invaluable opportunities to receive coaching from Nordiq Canada's esteemed mentors, including Paralympian and head coach Brian McKeever. Participants also undergo classification assessments and attend presentations on athlete wellness. What's truly remarkable is that these athletes get to ski alongside their Paralympic heroes for the camp.

Who Will it Benefit?

This endeavor will have a profound and far-reaching impact on individuals with disabilities who require sit ski sleds to engage in Para Nordic Skiing. By providing these sleds for free, as opposed to the substantial burden of a $3000 purchase, we will remove a significant financial obstacle for both athletes and clubs interested in hosting Try-it events for Para Nordic skiing.

The sit ski sleds cater to individuals with diverse conditions such as Spina Bifida, Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI), Polio, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Cerebral Palsy (CP), Amputees, Paraplegics, and others with lower body disabilities.

Our objective is to procure 2-3 adaptable sleds capable of accommodating various body shapes.