—Nation’s top Para Nordic athletes set to host World Cup opener, Dec. 4-12—

CANMORE, ALTA.—Canada’s medal-winning Para-Nordic skiers will officially launch the highly-anticipated Paralympic season by playing host to the World Cup opener at the Canmore Nordic Centre, December 4-12.

Each of Canada’s best cross-country skiers who contributed to winning a record 16 medals at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games will hit the start line on home snow.

Paralympic medallists including Brittany Hudak (Prince Albert, Sask.), Emily Young (Kelowna, B.C.), Natalie Wilkie (Salmon Arm, B.C.), Brian McKeever (Canmore, Alta.), Collin Cameron (Sudbury, Ont.), and Mark Arendz (Hartsville, P.E.I.) will lead 19 Canadian athletes to the start line for six days of Para cross-country skiing and biathlon racing.

Team Canada will be amongst 125 athletes from 15 nations participating in the season opener.

The Alberta World Cup Society, hosts of the Canmore 2021 World Para Nordic Skiing World Cup, continues to build on Canmore’s legacy of hosting premiere Nordic competitions. Putting the health and safety of all participants and the citizens of Alberta as its top priority, the Alberta World Cup Society has worked diligently with its stakeholders along with local, provincial, and federal health authorities to create a comprehensive COVID-19 risk management plant for this year’s event which is FREE to attend.

Who:                National Para-Nordic Ski Team

Men                                                                 Women

Mark Arendz, Hartsville, P.E.I                                       Brittany Hudak, Prince Albert, Sask.

Brian McKeever, Canmore, Alta.                                 Natalie Wilkie, Salmon Arm, B.C.

Graham Nishikawa, Whitehorse                                  Emily Young, Kelowna, B.C.

Collin Cameron, Sudbury, Ont.                                     Christina Picton, Fonthill, Ont.

Derek Zaplotinksy, Smoky Lake, Alta.                        Lyne Marie Bilodeau, Magog, Que.

Kyle Barber, Lively, Ont.

Jesse Ehman, Saskatoon

Levi Nadlersmith, Boissevain, Man.

Jesse Bachinsky, Kenora, Ont.

Sébastien Fortier, Quebec City

Ethan Hess, Pemberton, B.C.

Leo Sammarelli, Vancouver

Yves Bourque, Bécancour, QC

Logan Cox, Kimberley, B.C.

Schedule:          December 4-12, 20221 (Race days begin at 10 a.m. MTN)

December 4 – Short Distance Cross-Country Skiing

December 5 – Middle Distance Skate Cross-Country Skiing

December 7 – Cross-Country Skiing Classic Sprint

December 9 – Biathlon Individual

December 11 – Biathlon Sprint

December 12 – Biathlon Middle Distance

Where: Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park

CBC Live Streaming:

Races December 7, 9, 11 and 12 at the Canmore 2021 World Para Nordic Skiing World Cup will be streamed live on cbcsports.ca and CBC GEM.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Chris Dornan

Media and Public Relations

Cross Country Canada

T: 403-620-8731