As the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics approach from March 6 to 15, para alpine skiers from various nations are preparing for intense competition on the slopes of Cortina d'Ampezzo. Chinese athletes aim to build on their Beijing 2022 success, while Canadian contenders like guide Sierra Smith and sit-skier Brian Rowland overcome injuries for podium chances. The event features five disciplines across sitting, standing, and visually impaired categories.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics will feature para alpine skiing from March 7 to 14 on the Olympia delle Tofane slope in Cortina d'Ampezzo, one of the Games' most demanding venues with speeds nearing 100 km/h. China's para alpine team, which secured three gold, nine silver, and seven bronze medals at the Beijing 2022 Paralympics, enters with high ambitions. Athletes and coaches are focused on consolidating strengths and achieving breakthroughs abroad, as stated in Xinhua reports.
Canada's para alpine contingent includes promising duos and veterans. Ottawa native Sierra Smith, 25, serves as guide for visually impaired skier Kalle Eriksson, 21, using a two-way headset for communication during races. The pair won silver in slalom and giant slalom at the 2025 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships in Slovenia, finishing just 0.25 and 0.32 seconds off gold. Despite injuries this season—Eriksson's bone bruising and Smith's setbacks—they posted five podiums in seven World Cup starts and placed third in downhill training on March 4. "We’re healthy and we’re back," Smith told the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
Sit-skier Brian Rowland, 39, from Merrickville, Ontario, returns for his second Paralympics after back-to-back shoulder injuries in 2023 and 2024 sidelined him. He earned his first World Cup bronze in downhill at Sella Nevea in 2023 and has six top-10 results this season, including fifth in downhill at Santa Caterina. "I couldn’t be more excited, healthy and competitive," Rowland said.
Standing skier Alexis Guimond, 26, from Gatineau, Quebec, won his first Crystal Globe in super-G this season with three victories and seeks to add to his two Paralympic bronzes. Japan's Momoka Muraoka resumes cautious training after injury, while Switzerland's Robin Cuche eyes medals as downhill winner. The competitions include downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom, and alpine combined, with athletes in sitting, standing, and visually impaired classes.
