For para nordic skiers (cross-country and biathlon) and their guides in Canada, 2026-27 season. Covers sport classes, national classification, guide and sit-ski rules, joining a club, National Ski Team selection and Athlete Assistance Program carding.
Para nordic races are organized the same way as able-bodied races: an athlete skis a course, gets a time and is ranked. Athletes with different impairments normally compete in one of three groups: sitting, standing or visually impaired. Depending on your impairment, your result within the group is calculated by factoring your race time by a percentage assigned to your sport class.
The sport classes on Nordiq Canada's Para nordic page are:
Each category is a separate medal event. LW refers to winter sport athletes with a locomotor disability, and NS to athletes who are blind. The IPC and FIS regulate classification under the IPC Classification Code, and Nordiq Canada also has its own domestic classification policy. Para nordic skiers can also be integrated into able-bodied races, in the same category or as separate categories if there are enough athletes.
Under Nordiq Canada's Para Nordic Classification Policy (2024):
Nordiq Canada's Para Nordic Classification Policy (2024) allows national-level classification outside the IPC Classification Code and FIS rules, so athletes can compete in nationally sanctioned events including Provincial Cups, Canada Cups, Nordiq Cups, Nordiq Canada Ski Nationals and Canada Winter Games. Eligibility is decided case by case by the Canadian classifiers in consultation with Nordiq Canada staff. The current adaptations are:
Athletes who cannot be FIS classified are not eligible for Nordiq Canada Para nordic National Ski Team selection or Sport Canada Athlete Assistance Program funding.
From Nordiq Canada's Para-Nordic Race Event Guidelines (2019 edition), which follow the IPC Nordic Skiing rules:
From Nordiq Canada's Para-Nordic Race Event Guidelines (2019 edition), which follow the IPC Nordic Skiing rules:
Courses for sit-skiers should include uphills and downhills, with uphills in general not steeper than 10 to 12 per cent and not over 200 m in length, and downhills not steeper than 12 to 14 per cent. The minimum radius of a turn in a flat or downhill section is 15 m.
Para nordic programs are delivered through ski clubs across the country, following Nordiq Canada's Long-Term Athlete Development model. Para nordic skiing includes cross-country skiing and biathlon for athletes with a physical impairment, and visually impaired athletes compete with guides.
To get started:
The best athletes are prepared to compete at FIS and IBU Para World Cups and the Paralympic Games. Nordiq Canada can be reached at info@NordiqCanada.ca or 403-678-6791.
The 2026-27 Para National Ski Team (PNST) has three designations, selected from results in a qualification period of November 15, 2025 to March 31, 2026:
Only World Cup and Paralympic results from events with enough depth of field count: at least 2 athletes under 20 FIS points or at least 3 under 40 FIS points in that sport class.
To be considered for the 2026-27 Para National Ski Team (PNST) you must:
Selected athletes also agree to follow Nordiq Canada policies, be subject to testing, complete the CCES, Safe Sport and True Sport Clean modules, and provide accurate whereabouts information when required.
The High Performance Director has final authority on selections. Nomination decisions can be appealed to the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC), and an appeal must be filed within three days of the nomination Synopsis and Rationale being posted to the Nordiq Canada website.
The Athlete Assistance Program (AAP) is funded by Sport Canada and provides a monthly living and training allowance and, when applicable, post-secondary tuition assistance. Nordiq Canada's High Performance Director makes the nomination recommendations and Sport Canada approves them.
For 2026-27:
Athletes who cannot be FIS classified are not eligible for Sport Canada AAP funding.