Para XC Team In Action In Canada

Australian Para Nordic athletes Taryn Dickens, Matt Brumby, Dave Miln and Lauren Parker opened their racing season on November 27 with a 5km Freestyle Continental Cup race in Canmore, Canada.

Taryn Dickens and her guide Sean'Hope Craig made the podium in the women's Vision Impaired 5km, taking second place behind Maddie Mullen from Canada and just head of Kotaha Matsuda from Japan.

Taryn Dickens and Sean'Hope Craig

For Lauren Parker in the women's Sitski class, this was her first competition after taking up the sport during the Australian winter. Parker finished a credible 8th place in the 5km race in a strong field of 12 skiers from six nations.

Dave Miln and Matt Brumby faced a large field of 25 athletes from eight nations in the men's Sitski race, finishing 21st and 23rd respectively. Unfortunately for Miln, he skied an extra lap before crossing the finish line, losing significant time.

Matt Brumby

The whole team was excited to be back on skis, despite limited early snow this season and challenging conditions.

"I was well guided around the fast track by Seanie," said Dickens. "Conditions saw me lay down twice, with snow cannons blowing on the course making visibility even more difficult than normal for me. The lessons learned have given me a lot to think about and work on with Lynn-Maree moving into the World Cup here in a week's time. I am feeling very excited about the level of guiding I have now and can't wait for the next races.

"I can't count to five", reported Miln after the race.

Full results are available on the Zone4 race site and eventually here on the FIS site.

The Para Nordic crew next take on an Alberta Cup Biathlon race in Canmore this weekend, followed by XC and Biathlon World Cups coming up at the same venue between December 4-14. The events form part of the qualification and selection process for the 2026 Paralympics in Milano-Cortina.

The full Para Nordic crew in Canmore