Para Nordic Program
Ontario’s Para Nordic Program is designed to provide youth and adults with various types of physical disabilities with opportunities to participate in our sport for purposes of recreation and competition. Categories within Para Nordic include sit and standing skiing with disabilities such as vision impairment. Our Para Nordic programs and training camps are organized by a dedicated group of volunteers. We continue to adapt to a changing sport landscape and recently completed a Para Nordic Program Development Review.
2024-25 PARA Mentorship Program Application and Information
Para Nordic Equipment Rental Program for clubs and individuals
Team ON Para Nordic Programming Opportunities – Will be published October 2024
Thank you to our funding partner Canadian Tire Jumpstart.
Stronger Communities.
Stronger Canada.
Para Nordic Committee
Jen Nieson (Staff)
John Cowan
Perry Sakki
Jake Porter
Andrew Pittman
Collin Cameron
Vacant
Top 2 Priorities
Youth Program
To provide Para Nordic programs under the XCSO’s Youth Programs that can be used to attract Para Nordic children to the sport of cross country skiing.
These programs are based on Nordiq Canada’s Skill Development Program for Children include the Bunnyrabbit, Jackrabbit, and Track Attack programs. Read more about these on the Development Programs page.
To assist clubs in developing Para Nordic programs by supplying material for clubs to use for recruitment, workshops, coaching education, learn to ski programs, equipment contacts.
High Performance Program
To promote the development of high performing Para Nordic athletes to represent Ontario at CWG.
To continue the development of high performing Para Nordic athletes to represent Ontario as well as Canada on the international scene.
Resources
Visually Impaired Classes
Eligibility: Eligible for competition are those who meet the criteria of the classes B1, B2 and B3.
Source: International Paralympic Committee
Complete guideline for testing: International Blind Sport Federation
B1
No light perception in either eye up to light perception, but inability to recognise the shape of a hand at any distance or in any direction.
B2
From ability to recognise the shape of a hand up to a visual acuity of 2/60 and/or visual field of less than 5 degrees.
B3
From visual acuity above 2/60 up to visual acuity of 6/60 and/or visual field of more than 5 degrees and less than 20 degrees.
Clubs Offering Para Nordic Programs
- Arrowhead Nordic Ski Club
- Georgian Nordic Ski Club
- Highlands Trailblazers
- Kanata Nordic Ski Club
- Lappe Nordic Ski Club
- Laurentian Nordic Ski Club
- Nakkertok Nordic
- North Bay Nordic Ski Club
- Porcupine Ski Runners
- Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club
- Temiskaming Nordic Ski Club
- Waterloo Region Nordic Sports Club