There害羞草研究所檚 a reason why Canada害羞草研究所檚 Paralympic Nordic Team is currently training for Beijing 2022 at Nickel Plate Nordic Centre near Penticton 害羞草研究所� the elevation at the site is identical to where the team will compete in China this March.
But to the centre害羞草研究所檚 general manager Tricia Wilson, it害羞草研究所檚 much more than that.
It has to do with the pride she has in her centre and where the country害羞草研究所檚 Paralympic team arrived from 害羞草研究所� Canmore, Alta.
害羞草研究所淭hese are all my friends from Canmore,害羞草研究所� she explained. 害羞草研究所淚 just want to share this place (Nickel Plate Nordic Centre). We害羞草研究所檙e a small club that not a lot of people know about and I just want to let the world know.害羞草研究所�
Wilson came to the South Okanagan from Canmore and has since found herself managing the ski track 45 minutes southwest of Penticton, above Apex Mountain Resort. Her connection with Canmore has resulted in her developing friendships with the Para-Nordic team害羞草研究所檚 coaches.
That害羞草研究所檚 why the arrival of the Beijing-bound squad on Feb. 1 couldn害羞草研究所檛 have made Wilson happier.
害羞草研究所淥ur elevation is great and we have one of the longest ski seasons in the Western hemisphere,害羞草研究所� she said when asked about what makes Nickel Plate Nordic Centre an appealing destination for the Paralympic team. 害羞草研究所淲e have a good variety of green and blue trails but we also have these beautiful longer outer loops that make it feel like you害羞草研究所檙e on an adventure.
害羞草研究所淏ut also the people害羞草研究所he people here are amazing. We have a core group of volunteers and members that make this a cozy place.害羞草研究所�
For the rest of the week, Canada害羞草研究所檚 Para-Nordic Team will be preparing for the 2022 Paralympics.
Even though the team has only been training in the South Okanagan for a few days, Canada害羞草研究所檚 coaches are already praising the location of the ski hill.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e at 1,800 metres here and we need to be at a similar altitude for what the Beijing Paralympic race courses will be,害羞草研究所� said Team Canada害羞草研究所檚 Para-Nordic head coach Robin McKeever. 害羞草研究所淐oming to ski in an area that is close to those altitudes is very hard to find in Canada, there害羞草研究所檚 really only a few places (like this).害羞草研究所�
Among those athletes training at Nickel Plate is one of Canada害羞草研究所檚 most successful Olympians Brian McKeever.
He is the country害羞草研究所檚 most decorated winter Paralympian with 17 medals including 13 gold and is one of the top visually impaired cross-country skiers in the world.
Beijing 2022 will be McKeever害羞草研究所檚 sixth Paralympic Winter Games and he will be once again in the medal hunt.
The team is leaving for Beijing on Feb. 25 and will have 害羞草研究所渟ix or seven days on the ground害羞草研究所� before the competitions begin.
Para-Nordic athletes representing Canada on the world stage will be competing in both cross country skiing events and biathlon events.
McKeever害羞草研究所檚 hope is that his team can come home with several medals.
logan.lockhart@pentictonwesternnews.com
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