Canada add three snowboarders to Sochi 2014 team

"I am confident that the athletes nominated to compete in Sochi and their hard work and passion for snowboarding will ensure we bring home success for Canada"

Three Canadian para-snowboarders have been nominated to the Canadian team that will compete at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, it was announced Sunday (26 January) by Canada Snowboard and the Canadian Paralympic Committee.

To date, Canada has three para-snowboarders who have qualified for the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games: Tyler Mosher, Ian Lockey and John Leslie.

They are coached by head coach Candice Drouin and technical coach Dave Hugill. There may be an additional athlete nominated after the IPCAS World Cup Finals in La Molina, Spain, from 10-12 February.

While para-snowboard is a new Paralympic sport that will debut in Sochi, the nominated Canadians have years of experience under their boards with numerous international medals to show for it.

Mosher was the 2009 para-snowboard world champion, has won three IPC World Cup gold medals and was a Vancouver 2010 Paralympian in Nordic skiing. Lockey won a world championship bronze medal in 2009. Leslie is in his first year on the World Cup circuit and just last weekend won his first IPCAS World Cup podiums, two third places, at Copper Mountain, Colorado in the USA.

"It's quite overwhelming to believe that 10 years ago snowboarding for people with a disability didn't exist and now we're going to Sochi and the first ever Paralympic Games," said Mosher. "It's exciting to see young people racing with us who will be the next generation of snowboarding leaders within the Paralympic Movement. It's a true honour to be able to represent your country and exhibit your best effort towards excellence."

"Everyone at Canada Snowboard is really excited for the announcement of the athletes today and we've got a mix of older veterans who are bringing a wealth of experience to the team and a younger athlete as well, who brings great youthful enthusiasm," said head coach of the Canadian para-snowboard team, Candice Drouin.

"We are really looking forward to going back to Sochi. We had a great test event there last season. Our athletes are excited to showcase the sport and their skills to the world and it's a great opportunity for para-athletes to build awareness so more people with a disability can learn about taking part in our sport."

"Today's announcement is about writing a new chapter in Paralympic sport history in welcoming the first ever para-snowboard athletes on the Canadian Paralympic Team," said Team Canada Chef de Mission, Ozzie Sawicki. "The positive energy that surrounds our para-snowboarders comes not only from within their own sport, but through a shared excitement from the entire Canadian Team heading to Sochi. As the newest addition to the Paralympic Games, I am thrilled to see the performance determination of this group of athletes and coaches. I know they are well-prepared to contribute to Team Canada's overall goal for Sochi of placing in the top three nations in the gold medal count."

The athletes and coaches will be supported in Sochi by Team Leader Dustin Heise, physiotherapist Mike Conway and technician Derek Rhodes.

"I am confident that the athletes nominated to compete in Sochi and their hard work and passion for snowboarding will ensure we bring home success for Canada," said Heise, who is also Director, Sport Development, Canada Snowboard. "We couldn't be where we are without the support of the Government of Canada, Own The Podium, the Canadian Paralympic Committee as well as our valued corporate sponsors. I want to commend the coaching staff and integrated support staff for all of their dedicated planning and athlete development as we lead up to the Games."

"Congratulations to the para-snowboarding athletes who have been chosen to represent Canada at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games," said the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State Sport. "You are an enormous source of pride for all Canadians and you serve as inspiring role models of sportsmanship, determination, and motivation for our children and youth."

The Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games will take place from March 7 to 16. Men's and women's para-snowboard, which at the Paralympic Games is considered a discipline of alpine skiing, will race in Sochi on Friday 14 March.

With a goal of placing in the top three nations in the gold medal count, Canada will send approximately 50 athletes to compete in sledge hockey, wheelchair curling, Nordic skiing, para-alpine skiing and para-snowboard.

Nomination to the Canadian Paralympic Team is ongoing. The full team will be officially unveiled in February.

The IPCAS Snowboard World Cup Finals will be held in La Molina, Spain, from 10-12 February.

Complete Canadian athlete and coach biographies are available for download.