Background

National Ski Team Background:

Christina is very new to Nordiq Canada’s para development program. Her first time on snow was in December 2018 and only weeks later did she compete in her first race. Throughout the 2019 skiing season she earned enough race points to achieve provincial team status and had the opportunity to travel to Canmore to participate in a prospects training camp. In January 2020, one year after her first skiing competition, Christina traveled to her first international event in Utah, where she took third place in the sprint event and middle distance race. From there, Christina attended her first World Cup event as a prospect with the National Team. There she competed in the sprint and middle distance races where she came in 10th position, gaining valuable experience traveling overseas and competing against the best in the world.

Introduction to Cross-Country Skiing:

After years of involvement in developing Para Ice Hockey throughout Canada and her own community, Christina found out about cross-country skiing through one of her participants on  the “Learn to Sledge” program she facilitates in Port Colborne, Ontario. Linda Hamilton recognized Christina’s athleticism and encouraged her to go out on the snow for the first time. It was that afternoon skiing with Linda that hooked Christina to a new sport. Christina has always been a dedicated athlete that seeks out new challenges. Cross-country skiing provided her with a new opportunity to challenge her abilities, and with the momentum she gained throughout the 2019 ski season she realized that setting her sights on the national team was a goal she wanted to work towards. It’s always been Christina’s dream to represent her country at the Paralympic games. When she realized her work ethic and skills she developed through Para Ice Hockey transferred to the sport of skiing, her dream was re-established and has motivated her to work even harder towards her goal.

Personal:

Christina was born with a congenital deficiency that affected both her legs and ultimately led to her having her right leg amputated. She has never been one to let her disability slow her down. Christina has been involved in Parasport since she was 11 years old. Her passion for sport began when she was introduced to Para Ice Hockey and she has become a force within the sport over the last 15 years. Christina is the captain of the Women’sNational Para Ice Hockey team and was notably the first female athlete to try out for Hockey Canada’s Senior Men’s Para Ice Hockey Team.

Christina has been dedicated to developing the sport in her community, throughout Canada and even internationally. Her experiences throughout her athletic career has also inspired her to advocate for female athletes as well as Parasport in as a whole.

Christina works full-time as a graphic designer and has contributed to the face of the parasport community by designing logos for multiple parasport organizations.