Para alpine skiing: A day of training with Kalle Eriksson and guide Sierra Smith

 In two months, Canadian Para alpine skier Kalle Eriksson hopes to be hurtling down the slopes at Cortina at close to 100 km/h, chasing a pink blur while going for gold.

Eriksson and his guide Sierra Smith aim to make their mark during their Paralympic debut, hoping their maiden slalom World Cup victory in Cortina in February 2024 will be a good omen.

The duo has been in electric form over the past two seasons, with a consistent podium presence on the World Cup circuit – including gold in the giant slalom in March 2025 in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, and gold in January 2025 in the giant slalom in St Moritz, Switzerland.

“I think last year was a huge shift in Sierra and my skiing,” Eriksson told the IPC. “We were really on point and skiing confidently.”

“We had some big wins. I learned a lot. I was put into a couple of different situations I wasn’t familiar with, like starting last, going into the second run after having the fastest time.”

Teamwork on the slopes

There are high expectations on the pair because Canada has claimed a medal in the Para alpine skiing’s vision impaired category at five of the last six Paralympic Winter Games. Para alpine skiing is one of the six sports on the programme at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics, which take place from 6-15 March.

Eriksson, 21, started to lose his sight in 2021, which is why Smith, 25, wears a pink racing suit.

“We discovered pretty early on that bright pink was something Kalle could see the best. I used to wear orange. And then we made the change,” Smith said.

“I am Kalle’s eyes on the course. He can see a bit; he has 6 per cent peripheral vision... I’m communicating with him the entire time we are going down. Not so much left and right turns but any terrain changes or anything interesting coming up in the course.”

Being unstoppable

Eriksson, who grew up flitting between Sweden and Canada but returned to North America in 2021, is the son of long-time Canadian national Para alpine team coach Lasse Eriksson.

It was helping out at a training camp, slinging gates in Sweden, where Eriksson started to experience vision loss. Four years ago, he teamed up with Smith from Ottawa, who had been forced to abandon a solo racing career and Olympic dream following knee injuries.

“From day one skiing together, it has worked really well. We’ve had immediate trust in one another. It’s the name of the game in what we are doing.” Smith said.

“It’s really exciting going from my own solo career to now having a teammate. It’s been a huge transition, but really, really fun. 

“It has made me find a new love of the sport. I’m very thankful that I get to ski every day with Kalle and enjoy this crazy, wild ride that we are on.”

Training for the Games

Eriksson, who lives in Kimberley, British Columbia, said he has been working hard on strategies to deal with nerves and has race-day rituals that help him stay calm.

“I always put my right stuff on first. Right ski, right ski boot, right glove. That’s something I’ve carried over from hockey,” said Eriksson, who played ice hockey growing up.

“On race day, I’m typically up pretty early, a lot earlier than other teammates. I like to get up and get into a little bit of a mindset and prepare myself as best I can. 

“Race day nerves are going to be there no matter what. Just accepting that they will be there is a big thing.”

Living 3,500 kilometres apart on opposite sides of the country means that Eriksson and Smith have to spend a lot of time training solo – building strength and maintaining peak physical fitness at the gym.

But when they do come together for training camps on snow in Canada and overseas, they also prioritise time away from the slopes to do fun activities such as mountain biking, rock climbing and line dancing to build their teamwork and rapport. 

Despite their growing collection of competition bling, the lead-up to the Paralympics has not been all smooth sailing.

Eriksson sustained a shoulder injury in Chile during a training camp in October. Thankfully, after weeks of physio sessions, he got the all clear to ski again in late November.

“We’re playing everything as cautiously as possible, which is a little bit different from the life I typically like to live,” he said.

Despite having to scale back their training efforts during Eriksson’s rehabilitation process, the pair were back on the podium in December with double silver medals in St Moritz, Switzerland.

They also came away from Santa Caterina, Italy, with a bronze and a silver medal.

Secure your tickets for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games  

Milano Cortina 2026, which takes place from 6-15 March 2026, is set to be the most beautiful Paralympic Winter Games yet. Ticket prices start at EUR 10 for children under 14, with approximately 89 per cent of the tickets available for EUR 35 or less.

For more information, please visit tickets.milanocortina2026.org