Cross Country Canada / Ski du Fond Canada

Para-Nordic is the sport of cross-country skiing for participants and athletes with a physical disability. It is a sport which is accessible by all ages and abilities either individually or in a group setting. Cross Country Canada (CCC) supports and promotes Para-Nordic skiing at all levels consistent with our overall mission..." to develop and deliver programs designed to achieve international excellence in cross-country skiing."

Para-Nordic skiing is organized and governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) at the international level and Canada follows IPC rules and regulations. The IPC defines Para-sport as being for those with a "physical" disability and it does not currently include athletes with an intellectual disability (ID) in its organization. ID athletes have a separate organization International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability . In Canada local grassroots programs may include ID skiers but once a skier gets to a certain level and wants formal programming or begins competition they should follow the appropriate path for their disability.

"Para" comes from the Greek meaning ("beside" or "alongside"). The current use of the term stems from the Paralympics which refers to being the "parallel" Games to the Olympics. The word Paralympic may have originally been a combination of 'paraplegic' and 'Olympic', however with the inclusion of many different disability groups and the close association with the Olympic Movement, it now means a parallel Olympics to illustrate how the two movements exist side by side. The IPC does not formally use the term "Para-Nordic". Canada has adopted the term which means "parallel" Nordic sport to indicate how it exists side by side with able-bodied Nordic sport. It refers to all Nordic sport for athletes with a physical disability from grassroots to the Paralympics.

Para-Nordic skiing includes both cross-country skiing and biathlon. In able-bodied skiing these two disciplines are governed by separate organizations with separate rules and competitions. In Para-Nordic they are both organized and governed by the IPC with integrated competitions and many of the same athletes participating and competing in both sports. For a great summary and more detailed information about both sports and their history please go to the IPC Nordic skiing website.

Para-Nordic sampler video from Vancouver 2010


Para-Nordic skiing preview video from XCZone.tv