Canada’s Para Nordic Team open the Paralympic season with twelve World Cup medals on home snow

Canmore, Alta. — Dec. 8, 2025 — Nothing creates pressure like combining a home World Cup opener in a Paralympic year, but Canada’s Para nordic team delivered despite the demands. Over three race days, Canada’s Para nordic athletes collected 12 medals, eight silver and four bronze, and filled the stadium with Canadian pride, podiums, and personal bests that set a confident tone for the season ahead.

Dec 6, 10 km Individual Start Classic 

The first day of competition was filled with nerves as athletes got their first chance to see where they stacked up against the best in the world after a summer of training. In men’s sitting, Collin Cameron returned to World Cup racing after a shoulder injury and powered his way to silver. He shared the podium with Derek Zaplotinsky, who finished bronze behind Italy’s Giuseppe Romele. 

“There were times I felt like I wouldn’t make a start line again,” Cameron said while holding back tears. “To be here in Canmore, to hear the crowd, to feel the push of the course, it was joy, pure and simple. Sharing the podium with Derek makes it even better.” 

Canada’s standing squad matched the energy. Natalie Wilkie skied to silver in women’s standing, just behind Norway’s Vilde Nilsen, while Mark Arendz delivered bronze in men’s standing. The breakthrough of the day belonged to Maddie Mullin and guide Brooke Ailey, who celebrated their first World Cup podium with silver in women’s vision impaired. 

Coach Brian McKeever summed it up: “Collin back from injury, Derek on the podium, Natalie second, Maddie and Brooke’s first podium, and a lot of people returning or debuting. That’s what strong programs look like.” 

10 km Individual Start Classic Results 

Men’s Sitting  

Men’s Standing  

Women’s Standing  

Women’s Vision Impaired 

Dec 6, Sprint Free 

The second day of racing saw athletes go head-to-head on a technical and demanding sprint course. Natalie Wilkie did her best to challenge Norway’s Nilsen, though settled for another silver in the final heat. Maddie Mullin and Brooke Ailey turned their debut podium into a streak. “Teamwork is our foundation,” Ailey said. “At this level, it is communication, trust, and respect, and when we carry that onto the course and keep it fun, we ski better.” Mullin nodded. “Podiums are just the outcome of a lot of hard work together. When it matters, we know we can trust each other.”  

In men’s sitting, Collin Cameron raced his first World Cup sprint in more than two years and came within a whisker of gold. “I always want to win whatever race I get into and just cracked at the top of the final hill coming into the finish line,” he said after securing silver in the final. “It’s December, so it’s nice to know that I have some speed now and I can just build on that looking forward to March.” Mark Arendz and Derek Zaplotinsky finished fourth in their finals, narrowly missing the podium.  

Sprint Free Results

Women’s Standing  

Women’s Vision Impaired  

Men’s Sitting  

Dec 7, 10 km Mass Start Classic 

The mass start classic brought both fitness and tactics into the competition, which paid off for Canada in all three classes. Natalie Wilkie and Vilde Nilsen renewed their friendly rivalry. “Having her just in front is motivating,” Wilkie said. “I have gotten closer and it makes me want to be faster. I can almost taste it.” Wilkie claimed her third silver of the weekend in women’s standing, showing the race shape is there with time to improve as the season progresses. 

Mark Arendz fought to catch the race leaders but ultimately settled for bronze in the men’s standing, a reminder of his ability to manage packs and pace. The men’s sitting race featured a solo effort out front by Derek Zaplotinsky, who started with a lead and hung onto the race leaders, landing him another bronze behind Giuseppe Romele and Aaron Pike of the United States. “I am a slow starter most seasons,” he said. “To have two podiums right away gives me confidence for the year. Sharing the podium with Collin on the first day meant a lot. It has been a long road for both of us.” Collin Cameron finished close behind in fourth, adding another top result to a comeback weekend. In women’s vision impaired, Maddie Mullin and guide Brooke Ailey kept the streak alive with a third consecutive silver, and in men’s vision impaired, Jesse Bachinsky and guide Levi Nadlersmith skied to a best-ever fifth, a great result that energizes a team in the final moments of a race weekend. 

10 km Mass Start Classic Results 

Women’s Standing  

Men’s Standing  

Men’s Sitting  

Women’s Vision Impaired  

The team now shifts focus to the Para biathlon events, aiming for the top step of the podium. Mark Arendz will begin his campaign to capture his fifth overall Biathlon World Cup title, while Natalie Wilkie, Collin Cameron and Brittany Hudak will look for their first World Cup win of the season. Para high performance manager Marshall Starkman praised the collective effort of the staff and the energy around the athletes. 

“Kicking off the season on home snow with 12 medals is a testament to the athletes and staff,” he said. “We learned quickly, we supported each other and the pace never let up from the first start to the last awards. Now we turn that momentum into biathlon.” 

The IBU Para Biathlon World Cup in Canmore runs Dec. 11 to 14. 

Full Results: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=PCC&eventid=57983&seasoncode=2026