Article and Photos Submitted by John Cowan

Arrowhead hosted Canada’s first pilot project for Nordiq Canada in integrating a Para Nordic Skills Development Program called the Eagles Para Program.  The motto of the International Paralympic Committee is ‘to soar higher’ and carrying on the theme of animation the Eagle was selected.  Thank you to Arrowhead Jackrabbit coach Kade Vink for designing the program logo.  

Last year, Canadian Tire Corporation awarded Cross Country Ski Ontario a Jumpstart grant to purchase a fleet of both dryland and on snow adaptive sports equipment.  The equipment purchased come in two forms: seated and kneeling with customizable features to support the participants.  The dryland sit ski has wheels similar to a mountain board to go off roading on hiking trails around Arrowhead Provincial Park and comes with a bicycle hand brakes.  

In December, Arrowhead hosted the first integrated coaching with a disability program with the Community Coach stream.  Arrowhead had a 3 time Canada Winter Games para Nordic medallist Tanya Quesnel working with the para participants.  Tanya is a certified National Coach Certification Program coach who is trained in working with athletes with a disability and was instrumental in the success of the development of the participants by leading in her sit ski.     

The Eagle Para program was developed to give children with disabilities (wheel chair, amputee and visual impaired) an opportunity to have a similar pathway to learn the skills to become competent and confident in skiing on trails around Arrowhead.   The Eagle program had three participants who were all sit skiers.  The four week program started in December with a general information session and sizing of equipment prior to the first on snow session.  The participants quickly learned basic skills to be enjoying the same activities as the Bunny Rabbit and Jack Rabbits in exploring the trails and terrain of Arrowhead at the same time.  

Over the course of the program the skiers were introduced to two national team Nordiq Canada’s paralympic team members including local world champion Collin Cameron and Christina Picton who sent their video messages from Canmore in helping to inspire the new participants to skiing. 

Collin Cameron from Port Sydney/Bracebridge was the 2023 Federation International Ski (FIS) Crystal Globe Para Nordic Champion and took gold at the FIS World Para Nordic Sprints in Prince George last month.  Christina Picton from Font Hill and former captain of the Canadian Women’s sledge hockey team and has been sit skiing for 3 years won bronze at several FIS competitions this past year including a bronze at the FIS World Championships in Prince George.    

The last session of the season the participants were able to put all of their skills to use by navigating a ski playground established between the Visitor Center and the Pavilion.  At the conclusion of the session, the para participants, coaches and sponsors had a wrap up pizza party and an opportunity to learn the next steps in the pathway of para Nordic skiing. The participants had completed the first two levels of the Para Nordic Skills Development Program and they can return for another season to continue to build skills or move onto try some other challenges involving racing at local level events.  

Arrowhead Provincial Park is the inaugural park to have identified Para nordic ski trails both on the official trail map with an adaptive sports equipment sit skier logo on the Rowe trail and you will notice the placement of the trail signs are at a lower height for sit skiers to be follow.  As a result of hosting the Eagle Para program, Ontario Parks has purchased the same sit ski brand and model for rent for next year ski season.  

This Eagle program could have not happened without the support of Arrowhead Nordic Ski Club, Arrowhead Provincial Park, One Kids Place and to the para Nordic participants and their parents.  Thank you to Dana Murdy owner and pharmacist of Huntsville Shoppers Drug Mart for her sponsorship of the inaugural Eagle Para program.