March 6, 2014

RE: BC’s Guide to the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games

To our partners, supporters and fans of British Columbia’s Paralympic Athletes,

On behalf of the entire team at the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific (CSI Pacific) I am proud to share this informative ‘Guide to the Games’ with you. The information contained within will provide you with an insider’s view of the athletes who have a connection with British Columbia (BC) and who are competing at the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

In 2010, Canada won a total of 19 medals, with athletes who have a BC connection contributing 74% of Canada’s total medal haul. In 2014 we expect the Province of BC will once again be a key contributor to Canada’s medal count. 12 athletes with a BC connection have been named to the team for a total representation of 22% of the Canadian team.

For the most up to date results be sure to stay tuned into our website:

http://www.csipacific.ca/content/MediaCentre/Events/2014ParalympicWinterGames.asp

Safety and security have been front of mind for many Canadians as our athlete’s prepare to perform on the biggest stage in sport. We have the utmost confidence that the International Paralympic Committee and the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee will deliver an outstanding Paralympic Winter Games.

The Canadian Paralympic Committee continues to work very closely with government and security forces in Canada as a cornerstone of their preparation for Sochi 2014. This preparation extends to a close collaboration with the Organizing Committee in Sochi and the host nation, Russia, who are responsible for all security matters relating to Sochi 2014.

As with other Games, our safety and security measures are always adapted to each environment.

With that said, enjoy the Games and the many amazing performances to come.

Go Canada Go!

Yours in Sport,

Wendy Pattenden, CEO Canadian Sport Institute Pacific

Canadian Sport Institute at PISE Canadian Sport Institute at Creekside Canadian Sport Institute at WAC 4371 Interurban Road, Victoria, BC V9E 2C5 1 Athletes Way, Vancouver, BC V5Y 0B1 1090 Legacy Way, Whistler, BC V0N 1B1 [ T ] 250.220.2500 [ F ] 250.220.2503 [ T ] 778.327.4085 [ F ] 778.327.4084 [PO Box 659, Whistler, BC V0N 1B0] [ T ] 604.962.8891 [ F ] 778.327.4084 BC ATHLETES ON THE CANADIAN PARALYMPIC TEAM 2014 SOCHI As of February 26, 2014 TOTAL BC ATHLETES: 12 22% Name - Bold/Italicized - Pending # = CSI Pacific Registered Athlete

ATHLETES Camp Based Athletes (Serviced in Whistler) Sport Team Size Name Hometown Event Training Name Hometown Event Para-Alpine Skiing 14 Caleb Brousseau # Terrace Men's Sitting Whistler Billy Joe Marcoux # Sault Ste-Marie, ON Men's VI (guide) Josh Dueck # Kimberley Men's Sitting Whistler Mac Marcoux Sault Ste-Marie, ON Men's VI Matt Hallat # Coquitlam Men's Standing Whistler Kirk Schornstein # Spruce Grove, AB Men's Standing Kimberly Joines # Rossland Women's Sitting Whistler Alexandra Starker # Calgary, AB Women's Standing Braydon Luscombe # Duncan Men's Standing Whistler Whistler

Para-Nordic Skiing & Biathlon 14 Andrea Bundon # Regina, SK Guide Gorbounova (B3) - cross country and biathlon Vancouver

Para-Snowboard 4 Tyler Mosher # Whistler Men's Snowboard Cross Whistler John Leslie # Arnprior, ON Men's Snowboard Cross Ian Lockey # Rossland Men's Snowboard Cross Kelowna Michelle Salt # Calgary, AB Women's Snowboard Cross

Sledge Hockey 17 James Gemmell # Quesnel Surrey Wheelchair Curling 5 Jim Armstrong Cambridge, ON (born in Victoria) Mixed Team Cambridge, ON Ina Forrest # Armstrong Mixed Team Vernon/Armstrong Sonja Gaudet # Vernon Mixed Team Vernon

TOTAL 54 12 22.2% CSI Registered 11 20.4% CANADIAN PARALYMPIC TEAM COACHES AND SUPPORT STAFF FROM BC 2014 SOCHI As of February 26, 2014

NAME SPORT POSITION HOMETOWN Mission Staff Danny Buntain Mission Staff Team Services Officer Vancouver Russell O'Connor Mission Staff Chief Medical Officer North Vancouver Keegan Goodrich Communications Media Attaché, Sledge Hockey Coquitlam Keith Wells Communications Content Editor Victoria

Administration Barry Reynard Sledge Hockey Hockey Canada Officer Dawson Creek Jan Antons Sledge Hockey Equipment Manager Kamloops Bob Nicholson Sledge Hockey Chief Executive Officer Penticton Brad Pascall Sledge Hockey Vice President Coquitlam Dustin Heise Para-Snowboard High Performance Director Parksville

Medical Mike Conway Para-Snowboard Physiotherapist Whistler Laura Farres Wheelchair Curling Mental Trainer Vancouver

Coaches and Technical Joe Rea Wheelchair Curling Head Coach Prince George Candice Drouin Para-Snowboard Head Coach Squamish Mike Mondin Sledge Hockey Head Coach Trail Dave Hugill Para-Snowboard Technical Coach Whistler Derek Rhodes Para-Snowboard Technician Whistler Lasse Ericsson Para-Alpine Skiing Assistant Coach Kimberley

Home Team Jean-François Rapatel Para-Alpine Skiing Para High Performance Athlete Development Advisor Victoria Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games Competition Schedule - BC ATHLETES

Date Start Time (PST) BC Athlete* Event Friday March 7 9:30pm Jim Armstrong, Ina Forrest, Sonja Gaudet Curling vs. Great Britain Friday March 7 11:10pm Matt Hallat, Braydon Luscombe Men’s Downhill - Standing Friday March 7 11:50pm Josh Dueck, Caleb Brousseau Men’s Downhill - Sitting Saturday March 8 1:00am James Gemmell Sledge Hockey vs. Sweden Saturday March 8 1:05am Andrea Bundon Women’s 6 km Biathlon - VI Saturday March 8 3:30am Jim Armstrong, Ina Forrest, Sonja Gaudet Curling vs. Russia Saturday March 8 11:20pm Matt Hallat, Braydon Luscombe Men’s Super-G - Standing Sunday March 9 12:15am Josh Dueck, Caleb Brousseau Men’s Super-G - Sitting Sunday March 9 1:00am James Gemmell Sledge Hockey vs. Norway Sunday March 9 4:30am Jim Armstrong, Ina Forrest, Sonja Gaudet Curling vs. Sweden Sunday March 9 10:30pm Jim Armstrong, Ina Forrest, Sonja Gaudet Curling vs. USA Monday March 10 2:20am Andrea Bundon Women’s 15 km Classic Cross-Country - VI Monday March 10 4:30am Jim Armstrong, Ina Forrest, Sonja Gaudet Curling vs. Norway Monday March 10 11:50am Matt Hallat, Braydon Luscombe Men’s Super Combined Downhill - Standing Tuesday March 11 12:30am Josh Dueck, Caleb Brousseau Men’s Super Combined Downhill - Sitting Tuesday March 11 1:00am James Gemmell Sledge Hockey vs. Czech Republic Tuesday March 11 3:30am Andrea Bundon Women’s 10 km Biathlon - VI Tuesday March 11 4:30am Jim Armstrong, Ina Forrest, Sonja Gaudet Curling vs. China Tuesday March 11 5:40am Matt Hallat, Braydon Luscombe Men’s Super Combined Slalom - Standing Tuesday March 11 6:05am Josh Dueck, Caleb Brousseau Men’s Super Combined Slalom - Sitting Tuesday March 11 10:30pm Jim Armstrong, Ina Forrest, Sonja Gaudet Curling vs. Korea Wednesday March 12 12:28am Andrea Bundon Women’s 1 km Sprint Free Biathlon Qualification - VI Wednesday March 12 2:22am Andrea Bundon Women’s 1 km Sprint Free Biathlon Semi-final - VI Wednesday March 12 3:33am Andrea Bundon Women’s 1 km Sprint Free Biathlon Final - VI Wednesday March 12 10:30pm Jim Armstrong, Ina Forrest, Sonja Gaudet Curling vs. Slovakia Thursday March 13 4:30am Jim Armstrong, Ina Forrest, Sonja Gaudet Curling vs. Finland Thursday March 13 5:15am Matt Hallat, Braydon Luscombe Men’s Slalom - Standing Run 1 Thursday March 13 5:55am Josh Dueck, Caleb Brousseau Men’s Slalom - Sitting Run 1 Thursday March 13 8:10am Matt Hallat, Braydon Luscombe Men’s Slalom - Standing Run 2 Thursday March 13 8:35am Josh Dueck, Caleb Brousseau Men’s Slalom - Sitting Run 2 Thursday March 13 11:00am Tyler Mosher Men’s Snowboard Cross - Standing Thursday March 13 11:00am Ian Lockey Men’s Snowboard Cross - Standing Thursday March 13 TBD James Gemmell Sledge Hockey Semi-final Friday March 14 4:25am Andrea Bundon Women’s 12.5 km Biathlon - VI Friday March 14 5:40am Kimberly Joines Women’s Slalom - Sitting Friday March 14 8:30am Kimberly Joines Women’s Slalom - Sitting Friday March 14 10:30pm Jim Armstrong, Ina Forrest, Sonja Gaudet Curling Semi-final Friday March 14 10:55pm Matt Hallat, Braydon Luscombe Men’s Giant Slalom - Standing Run 1 Friday March 14 11:45pm Josh Dueck, Caleb Brousseau Men’s Giant Slalom - Sitting Run 1 Saturday March 15 2:20am Matt Hallat, Braydon Luscombe Men’s Giant Slalom - Standing Run 2 Saturday March 15 2:55am Josh Dueck, Caleb Brousseau Men’s Giant Slalom - Sitting Run 2 Saturday March 15 4:30am Jim Armstrong, Ina Forrest, Sonja Gaudet Curling Final Saturday March 15 11:35pm Kimberly Joines Women’s Giant Slalom - Sitting Saturday March 15 TBD James Gemmell Sledge Hockey Final Sunday March 16 12:40am Andrea Bundon Women’s 5 km Free Cross-Country Skiing - VI Sunday March 16 2:45am Kimberly Joines Women’s Giant Slalom - Sitting

*athlete is either born and/or trains in BC

LAYMAN'S GUIDE TO CLASSIFICATION IN PARALYMPIC WINTER SPORTS

Source: International Paralympic Committee

1. WHAT IS CLASSIFICATION?

Classification provides a structure for competition. Athletes competing in Paralympic sports have an impairment that leads to a competitive disadvantage in sport. Consequently, a system has to be put in place to minimize the impact of impairments on sport performance and to ensure the success of an athlete is determined by skill, fitness, power, endurance, tactical ability and mental focus. This system is called classification. Classification determines who is eligible to compete in a Paralympic sport and it groups the eligible athletes in sport classes according to their activity limitation in a certain sport.

2. TEN ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS

The Paralympic Movement offers sport opportunities for athletes with physical, visual and intellectual impairments and these can be divided into 10 eligible impairment types.

 Impaired muscle power: With impairments in this category, the force generated by muscles, such as the muscles of one limb, one side of the body or the lower half of the body is reduced, e.g. due to spinal-cord injury, spina bifida or polio.  Impaired passive range of movement: Range of movement in one or more joints is reduced in a systematic way. Acute conditions such as arthritis are not included.  Loss of limb or limb deficiency: There is a total or partial absence of bones or joints as a consequence of amputation due to illness or trauma or congenital limb deficiency (e.g. dysmelia).  Leg-length difference: Significant bone shortening occurs in one leg due to congenital deficiency or trauma.  Hypertonia: Hypertonia is marked by an abnormal increase in muscle tension and reduced ability of a muscle to stretch. Hypertonia may result from injury, disease, or conditions which involve damage to the central nervous system (e.g. cerebral palsy).  Ataxia: Ataxia is an impairment that consists of a lack of co-ordination of muscle movements (e.g. cerebral palsy, Friedreich’s ataxia).  Athetosis: Athetosis is generally characterized by unbalanced, involuntary movements and a difficulty maintaining a symmetrical posture (e.g. cerebral palsy, choreoathetosis).  Short stature*: Standing height is reduced due to shortened legs, arms and trunk, which are due to a musculoskeletal deficit of bone or cartilage structures.  Visual impairment: Visual Impairment occurs when there is damage to one or more of the components of the vision system, which can include impairment of the eye structure/receptors, impairment of the optic nerve/optic pathways and impairment of the visual cortex.  Intellectual Impairment*: Athletes with an intellectual impairment are limited in regards to intellectual functions and their adaptive behaviour, which is diagnosed before the age of 18 years.

* Athletes with short stature or intellectual impairment are currently only included in Paralympic Summer Sports, but not in Paralympic Winter Sports.

3. CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS

Classification systems differ by sport and were developed by the International Federations (IF) governing the sport. IFs decide which impairment types their sport will cater for. Some Paralympic sports are only designed for athletes with one impairment type. Goalball, for example, is only open for athletes with visual impairment. Other sports, such as Athletics and Swimming, are open to athletes in any of the 10 impairment groups. In Winter Sports, Alpine Skiing, for example, offers competition for athletes with physical impairments and visual impairment, while Ice Sledge Hockey only includes athletes with physical impairment.

IFs also decide how severe an impairment has to be in order for an athlete to be eligible to compete in their sport. For an athlete to be eligible the impairment must be severe enough that it impacts his or her sport performance.

Since different sports require different abilities, each sport logically requires its own classification system. For example, an impairment of the arms affects performance in a running event in Athletics to a lesser extent than it affects performance in Swimming.

4. SPORT CLASSES

A sport class is a category which groups athletes depending on how much their impairment impacts performance in their sport. Therefore, a sport class is not necessarily comprised of one impairment type alone, but can be comprised of athletes with different impairments. However, these different impairments affect sport performance to a similar extent. For example, you will find athletes with some loss of muscle power in one arm and athletes with an amputation below the elbow in one arm competing in the same sport class in IPC Nordic Skiing, because their different impairments have a comparable effect on their racing performance.

In Alpine Skiing and Nordic Skiing, athletes in different sport classes may compete together for one medal, because there are not enough athletes for each sport class to create a competitive event. In these cases, the different sport classes are allocated factors that the athletes’ race times are multiplied with. That way the different levels of activity limitations are taken into account.

Some Paralympic sports only have one Sport class, such as Wheelchair Curling and Ice Sledge Hockey. To compete in these sports, the athletes only need to meet the minimal impairment criteria.

5. HOW IS A SPORT CLASS ALLOCATED TO AN ATHLETE?

A sport class is allocated through athlete evaluation by classifiers. Each IF trains and certifies classifiers to conduct classification in its sport. Classifiers assessing athletes with the various physical impairments listed above either have a (para-) medical background or are technical experts in their sport. Athletes with visual impairment are classified by classifiers with a background in ophthalmology or optometry. Psychologists and sport experts are involved with classification for athletes with intellectual impairment.

Classification takes place before competitions. Therefore, athletes who need to be classified arrive at the competition a few days earlier to undergo classification and to be allocated a sport class. During the evaluation process, classifiers follow the Classification Rules of the IF. Depending on the impairment an athlete might undergo classification several times throughout his or her career. Some impairments change over time, e.g. visual acuity might decrease over time or hypertonia may increase. Also, junior athletes may not yet have reached skeletal maturity by the time of first classification (e.g. IPC Swimming). In these cases, classifiers can decide that the athlete has to be seen again at the next competition or later.

6. CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS OF PARALYMPIC WINTER SPORTS

PARA-ALPINE SKIING

Included impairment types:

Impaired muscle power X Athetosis X Impaired range of motion X Hypertonia X Limb deficiency X Ataxia X Leg length difference X Visual impairment X

Sport Classes LW 2-9: Standing Skiers

Skiers with leg impairments:

Sport Class LW 1: This Sport Class is allocated to Athletes with an impairment that strongly affects both legs, for example an above knee amputation of both legs or significant muscle weakness in both legs.

Sport Class LW 2: LW 2 Skiers have a significant impairment in one leg. Some skiers, for example, have an impaired leg from birth. You will see them ski with one ski only.

Sport Class LW 3: This Sport Class is for athletes who have a moderate impairment in both legs. They will ski with two skis and prosthesis. Some LW 3 skiers have mild coordination problems or muscle weakness in both legs, or a below knee amputation in both legs.

Sport Class LW 4: Similar to skiers in Sport Class LW 2, LW 4 skiers have an impairment in one leg only, but with less Activity Limitation. A typical example is a below knee amputation in one leg. They will use two skis during the race.

Skiers with arm impairments:

Sport Class LW 5/7: Athletes in this Sport Class ski with an impairment in both arms. Some athletes have amputations and others have limited muscle power or coordination problems. They will race down the slopes without ski poles.

Sport Class LW 6/8: LW 6/8 skiers have an impairment in one arm. Skiers will compete with one ski pole only.

Skiers with combined arm and leg impairments:

Sport Class LW 9: Skiers in this Sport Class have an impairment that affects arms and legs. Some skiers in this class have coordination problems, such as spasticity or some loss of control over one side of their body. Depending on their abilities, they will ski with one or two skis and one or two poles.

Sport Classes LW 10-12: Sit-Skiers

All sit-skiers have an impairment affecting their legs. They are allocated different sport classes depending on their sitting balance, which is very important for acceleration and balancing during the races.

Sport Class LW 10: Skiers in Sport Class LW 10 have no or minimal trunk stability, for example due to spinal cord injuries or spina bifida. They therefore rely mainly on their arms to manoeuvre the sit-ski.

Sport Class LW 11: LW 11 skiers have good abilities in their upper trunk, but very limited control in their lower trunk and hips, as it would be the case for skiers with lower spinal cord injuries.

Sport Class LW 12: This sport class includes skiers with normal or only slightly decreased trunk function and leg impairments. Skiers with leg impairments in

Sport Classes LW 1-4 often also fit this sport class, so that they can choose if they want to ski sitting or standing in the beginning of their career.

Sport Classes B1-3: Skiers with visual impairment

Sport Class B1:

Skiers in this sport class are either blind or have very low visual acuity. By way of explanation, their level of visual acuity is such that the athlete cannot recognize the letter “E” (15x15cm in size) from a distance of 25cm. During the race they are required to wear eyeshades.

Sport Class B2:

The B2 sport class profile includes athletes with a higher visual acuity than athletes competing in the B1 class, but they are unable to recognize the letter “E” from a distance of 4m. Moreover, athletes with a visual field of less than 10 degrees diameter are eligible for this sport class.

Sport Class B3:

The B3 sport class profile describes the least severe visual impairment eligible for Alpine Skiing. Eligible athletes either have a restricted visual field of less than 40 degrees diameter or a low visual acuity.

In IPC Alpine Skiing, you will see athletes with visual impairment skiing with a guide. The guide skis in front of the athlete and verbally gives directions to the athlete.

PARA-SNOWBOARD

Included impairment types:

Impaired muscle power X Athetosis X Impaired range of motion X Hypertonia X Limb deficiency X Ataxia X Leg length difference X Visual impairment

Sport Classes:

Paralympic Snowboard currently offers two Sport Classes, one for athletes with leg impairments and one for athletes with arm impairments. The sport is under development and with its growth the Classification system will be refined gradually.

Sport Class SB LL:

Snowboarders in the Sport Class SB LL have leg impairments, such as amputations above the ankle, stiffness of ankle or knee joint or muscle weakness. Athletes with amputations will use prosthesis during the races.

Sport Class SB UL:

Snowboarders in the SB UL Class have impairments of the upper limbs, which impacts on the ability to balance when racing down the slopes. In the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, however, only events for athletes in Sport Class SB-LL are offered.

PARA-NORDIC SKIING AND BIATHLON

Included impairment types:

Impaired muscle power X Athetosis X Impaired range of motion X Hypertonia X Limb deficiency X Ataxia X Leg length difference X Visual impairment X

The skiers in Cross-Country and Biathlon compete in several different sport classes, depending on the activity limitation that their impairment causes.

Sport Classes LW 2-9: Standing Skiers

Skiers with leg impairments:

Sport Class LW 2: The skiers in Sport Class LW2 have an impairment affecting one leg, for example an amputation above the knee. They will use a prosthesis and ski with two skis.

Sport Class LW 3: This Sport Class includes skiers with an impairment in both legs, such as muscle weakness in both legs.

Sport Class LW 4: Skiers in this Sport Class include those with impairments in the lower parts of one leg, but with less impact on skiing compared to LW 2. Typical examples are amputations above the ankle or loss of muscle control in one leg.

Skiers with arm impairments:

Sport Class LW 5/7: This sport class is designated for athletes with impairments in both arms that prohibit them to use ski poles. Skiers, for example, have no hands or cannot grip firmly. Therefore, you will see them skiing without poles.

Sport Class LW 6: Athletes competing in the LW 6 Sport Class have a significant impairment in one arm, for example a missing arm above the elbow. The impaired arm is fixed to their body and may not be used during the races. With the other hand they will use a ski pole.

Sport Class LW 8: Skiers in this Sport Class have moderate impairments affecting one arm. Athletes, for example, cannot flex the elbow or fingers on one side or they have a below elbow amputation. They will use one ski pole only.

Skiers with combined impairments in arms and legs:

Sport Class LW 9: This sport class is designed for skiers who have an impairment in arms and legs. Some of the LW9 skiers have mild coordination problems in all extremities, Others have amputations affecting at one arm and one leg. Depending on their abilities, they will ski with one or two ski poles.

Sport Classes LW 10-12: Sit-Skiers

All sit-skiers have an impairment affecting their legs. They are allocated different sport classes depending on their trunk control, which is very important for acceleration and balancing during the races.

Sport Class LW 10: LW10 skiers have an impairment that limits their leg and trunk function. They would be unable to sit without supporting himself or herself with the arms, for example due to paraplegia.

Sport Class LW 10.5: Skiers in this sport class also have limited trunk control, but they can keep their sitting balance when not moving sideways.

Sport Class LW 11: LW 11 Skiers have a leg impairment and fair trunk control, which enables them to balance even when moving sideways.

Sport Class LW 11.5: Skiers in this sport class have near to normal trunk control.

Sport Class LW 12: Skiers in this sport class have impairments similar to those described for the sport classes LW 2-4: They have a leg impairment, but normal trunk control. They are eligible to compete standing or sitting and can chose their preferred way of skiing at their first Classification.

Sport Classes B1-3: Skiers with visual impairment

Sport Class B1:

Skiers in this sport class are either blind or have very low visual acuity. By way of explanation, their level of visual acuity is such that the athlete cannot recognize the letter “E” (15x15cm in size) from a distance of 25cm. During the race they wear eyeshades.

Sport Class B2:

The B2 sport class profile includes athletes with a higher visual acuity than athletes competing in the B1 class, but they are unable to recognize the letter “E” from a distance of 4m. Moreover, athletes with a visual field of less than 10 degrees diameter are eligible for this sport class.

Sport Class B3:

The B3 sport class profile describes the least severe visual impairment eligible for Nordic Skiing. Eligible athletes either have a restricted visual field of less than 40 degrees diameter or a low visual acuity.

For B1 skiers a guide is obligatory and B2 and B3 skiers may choose to ski with a guide. The guide skis immediately ahead of the athlete and verbally informs the athlete of course specifics such as corners, inclines, and declines. In Biathlon, athletes with visual impairment shoot at the target by following sound signals.

WHEELCHAIR CURLING

Sport Classes:

All wheelchair curlers compete in one sport class only. They all have an impairment affecting their legs, but usually not affecting their arms. Some have a muscle weakness in their legs due to spinal cord injuries and others have a lack of muscle control due to cerebral palsy. Because of they have a significant leg impairment, wheelchair curlers mostly use a wheelchair in daily life.

Impaired muscle power X Athetosis X Impaired range of motion X Hypertonia X Limb deficiency X Ataxia X Leg length difference X Visual impairment

ICE SLEDGE HOCKEY

Included impairment types:

Impaired muscle power X Athetosis X Impaired range of motion X Hypertonia X Limb deficiency X Ataxia X Leg length difference X Visual impairment

Sport Classes:

In Ice Sledge Hockey there is only one Sport Class. Athletes have to have an impairment in the lower part of their body that would prevent them from competing in able-bodies Ice Hockey. Players, for example, have amputations affecting their legs, stiffness of the ankle or knee joint, or a leg length difference of at least 7cm. Some players also have muscle weakness in their legs, for example due to Paraplegia.

All players of a team must meet the impairment criteria to compete in Ice Sledge Hockey, so that the impact of impairment on the competition outcome is minimized.

BC ATHLETES AT 2014 PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES

All times are Pacific Standard Time

PARA-ALPINE SKIING

CALEB BROUSSEAU

Birthdate: July 30, 1988 (25) Hometown: Terrace Training: Whistler Coaches: Jean-Sébastien Labrie, Sven Pouliot, Lasse Ericsson, Jocelyn Huot Disability Type: Spinal cord injury @calebbrousseau 2011 Canada Winter Games

Event: Men's Sitting Downhill: March 7 at 11:50 pm Super-G: March 9 12:15 am Super Combined Downhill: March 11 12:30 am Super Combined Slalom: March 11 6:05 am Slalom: March 13 5:55 am and 8:35 am Giant Slalom: March 14 11:45 pm and March 15 2:55 am

Since joining the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team in 2011-12, Brousseau has recorded five top-10 finishes at IPC World Cup and world championship events. The sit-skier is consistently working his way towards the podium at international events and is regarded as one of the team’s sit-ski stars of the future.

Brousseau, who first remembers skiing on red plastic skis as a child in his parents’ backyard, injured himself in a 2007 snowboarding accident and quickly learned to transition to sit-skiing. He has 11 brothers and sisters and is a whitewater kayak instructor during the summer. His passion for speed and risk-taking carries over to the water, having previously gone off a 35-foot waterfall in his kayak.

Before leaving the start-gate on race day, Brousseau always listens to the same song – “Sail” by AWOLNATION – for inspiration, and credits extreme sport athlete Travis Pastrana as a role model for always pushing the limits of what’s possible.

The Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games are Brousseau’s first Paralympic Games experience.

JOSH DUECK

Birthdate: January 13, 1981 (33) Hometown: Kimberley Training: Whistler Coaches: Jean-Sébastien Labrie, Sven Pouliot, Lasse Ericsson, Jocelyn Huot Disability Type: Spinal cord injury @justdueck Paralympic Experience: Vancouver 2010 (Slalom SILVER, Downhill 5th, Super Combined DQ, Super-G 13th) 2006 BC Winter Games

Event: Men's Sitting Downhill: March 7 at 11:50 pm Super-G: March 9 12:15 am Super Combined Downhill: March 11 12:30 am Super Combined Slalom: March 11 6:05 am Slalom: March 13 5:55 am and 8:35 am Giant Slalom: March 14 11:45 pm and March 15 2:55 am

A former freestyle skiing coach who first experienced skiing while on a school field trip in Grade 11, Dueck broke his back in 2004 when he overshot a demonstration jump and was told he would have to “rock the world” in a wheelchair. As an ace sit-skier, Dueck has done just that, winning gold in Mono Skier X at the 2011 X Games, bronze at the 2012 X Games and picking up silver in slalom at the 2010 Paralympics. He has WON multiple IPC World Cup podiums and is the 2009 world downhill champion.

Sochi is Dueck’s second Paralympic Games. At the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games he was a silver medalist in slalom, placed fifth in downhill and 13th in Super-G.

In February 2012, Dueck shot to international acclaim when he went upside- down and became the first sit-skier to complete a backflip on snow – earning him world-wide notoriety and an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The Kimberley, BC, native is a powder hound when not racing, and has gone cat-skiing and heli-skiing with his sit-ski. He is a vocal advocate for workplace safety and accessibility in sport, and in 2013 gave a TED Talk about his experiences.

Dueck credits much of his success to his wife, Lacey, with whom he welcomed their first child last year. Off the slopes, Dueck is a yoga enthusiast and the vice-president of the Live It! Love It! Foundation, which provides outdoor adaptive adventure opportunities for people with disabilities.

MATT HALLAT

Birthdate: April 13, 1984 (29) Hometown: Coquitlam Training: Whistler Coaches: Jean-Sébastien Labrie, Sven Pouliot, Lasse Ericsson, Jocelyn Huot Disability Type: Below-knee amputee (right leg) @matthallat Paralympic Experience: Vancouver 2010 (Downhill 11th, Giant Slalom DNS, Slalom 31st, Super Combined DNF, Super-G 18th), Torino 2006 (Downhill DNF, Slalom 31st, Super-G 37th, Giant Slalom 32nd) 2000 BC Winter Games

Event: Men's Standing Downhill: March 7 at 11:10 pm Super-G: March 8 11:20 pm Super Combined Downhill: March 10 11:50 pm Super Combined Slalom: March 11 5:30 am Slalom: March 13 5:15 am and 8:10 am Giant Slalom: March 14 10:55 pm and March 15 2:20 am

One of the most experienced athletes on the team, Hallat is a two-time Paralympian with more than a decade of experience representing Canada on the world stage. Hallat had his leg amputated at age five due to Ewing’s sarcoma and races in the men’s standing category – one of the most competitive on the para-alpine circuit. He recently battled back from a 2012 knee injury and in 2013 earned his first two IPC World Cup podiums; a particularly sweet victory for an athlete who has been in the top 10 almost 20 times. He is the 2011 Canadian champion in giant slalom and slalom and has represented Canada at three World Championships.

Sochi is Hallat’s third Paralympic Winter Games, having competed in both 2006 and 2010. His best Paralympic result to date is 11th in downhill at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games. Hallat lists struggling with results in front of a home crowd in Vancouver as one of his worst moments in ski racing, and is eager for redemption in Russia.

The 29-year-old is an all-round sportsman, and spends much of his time in the mountains mountain biking and working on his single-digit handicap on the golf course.

KIMBERLY JOINES

Birthdate: January 27, 1981 (33) Hometown: Rossland Training: Whistler Coaches: Jean-Sébastien Labrie, Sven Pouliot, Lasse Ericsson, Jocelyn Huot Disability Type: Spinal cord injury @9LivesJoines Paralympic Experience: Turin 2006 (Super-G BRONZE, Downhill DNF, Giant Slalom 7th, Slalom DNF)

Event: Women's Sitting Slalom: March 14 5:40 am and 8:30 am Giant Slalom: March 15 11:35 pm and March 16 2:45 am

One of the world’s best female sit-skiers, Joines is a two-time IPC world

champion, 22-time IPC World Cup winner and a Paralympic bronze medallist. Joines, who suffered a spinal-cord injury in a terrain park accident, returned to competition in 2011-12 after recovering from a serious injury that ruled her out of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

After battling back from several other injuries, Joines hopes to better her bronze medal from Turin at the Sochi 2006 Winter Paralympic Games. The 33-year-old, who currently specializes in technical events, is the true picture of determination – when it counts, she always grits her teeth and gets things done.

When Joines isn’t racing, she can still be found on the slopes hitting powder in her sit-ski. She is an avid foodie and enjoys cooking (likely something spicy!), camping, gardening and spending time in the mountains.

BRAYDON LUSCOMBE

Birthdate: November 30, 1992 (21) Hometown: Duncan Training: Whistler Coaches: Jean-Sébastien Labrie, Sven Pouliot, Lasse Ericsson, Jocelyn Huot Disability Type: Above-knee amputation (right leg) @oneleggedhustla 2006 and 2008 BC Winter Games, 2011 Canada Winter Games

Event: Men's Standing Downhill: March 7 at 11:10 pm Super-G: March 8 11:20 pm Super Combined Downhill: March 10 11:50 pm Super Combined Slalom: March 11 5:30 am Slalom: March 13 5:15 am and 8:10 am Giant Slalom: March 14 10:55 pm and March 15 2:20 am

A former prospect athlete who moved up to the national team in 2011 after forerunning at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, Luscombe has recorded eight top-10 finishes at IPC World Cup and world championship events since his first World Cup season (2012). He became the men’s Canadian giant slalom champion in 2013.

He had his right leg amputated after contracting necrotizing fasciitis (flesh- eating disease) as a child and competes in the standing category. At last year’s IPC World Cup finals in Sochi, Russia, Luscombe had a promising fifth-place finish in slalom – a confidence booster that the 21-year-old will build on as he enters into his first Paralympic experience as a competing athlete.

Luscombe, who says the athletes he admires most in sport are his fellow competitors and teammates, likes to road cycle in his spare time, and is known on the team for his sense of humour and flowing mullet. He is a talented artist who designs tattoos in sketchbooks that often accompany him on the road.

PARA-NORDIC SKIING & BIATHLON

ANDREA BUNDON

Birthdate: June 1982 (31) Hometown: Regina, Saskatchewan Training: Whistler Coach: Robin McKeever @ultreia1x Paralympic Experience: Vancouver 2010 (Biathlon 9th, Cross-country 11th)

Events: Cross Country and Biathlon, Women's VI Guide (Gorbounova) Biathlon 6km: March 8 1:05 am Cross-country 15km Classic: March 10 2:20 am Biathlon 10km: March 11 3:30 am Cross-country 1km Sprint Free Qualification: March 12 12:28 am Cross-country 1km Sprint Free Semi-final: March 12 2:22 am Cross-country 1km Sprint Free Final: March 12 3:33 am Biathlon 12.5km: March 14 4:25 am Cross-country 5km Free: March 16 12:40 am Cross-country Mixed Relay TBC Cross-country Open Relay TBC

Andrea Bundon is a two-sport star who excels in rowing and cross country skiing. Five years ago, she jumped at an opportunity to be a Nordic ski guide for Courtney Knight, who has a visual impairment. At the 2010 Paralympic Games in Vancouver, Knight and Bundon reached the semi-final and placed eighth in the classic sprint race.

At the 2014 Paralympic Games in Sochi, Bundon will be guiding Margarita Gorbounova. They started racing together in the 2012-13 season. Last year they raced a couple of NorAms in Canada, the Canadian Nationals and a cross country and biathlon IPC World Cup in Wisconsin.

Bundon is also an outstanding academic with a Bachelor of Applied Science in biomechanics from the University of Calgary, a Masters of Art in sport sociology from the University of British Columbia and a PhD from the School of Kinesiology from UBC. Her PhD was a project researching the use of blogging and social media within the Paralympic Movement.

In January 2014, Bundon moved to England to start a one year postdoctoral fellowship (research position) at the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport at Loughborough University. Her research in the UK is a look at the sport experiences of youth with disabilities in the wake of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

As a rower, her highlights include an eighth place finish at the 2010 World University Championships and two silver medals at the 2010 National University Championships. She still rows competitively at select meets.

PARA-SNOWBOARD

IAN LOCKEY

Birthdate: May 1, 1973 (41) Hometown: Rossland Training: Kelowna Coach: Candice Drouin Disability Type: 50% paralyzed from the waist down @adaptiverider

Event: Men's Snowboard Cross *new event March 13 11:00 pm

From snowboarding, mountain biking, to surfing, Ian Lockey’s life has always revolved around enjoying sports and going fast. At age 25, a serious crash while snowboarding in New Zealand resulted in a severed spinal cord and minor head injury. Ian is now a standing paraplegic with 50% use of muscles from the waist down. As he says, “It has left me a little physically different, but no less amped or keen.”

Ian grew up in Auckland, New Zealand, and moved to Rossland, British Columbia, 12 years ago. He got involved with Canada Snowboard’s Adaptive Snowboarding Program in 2006 and hasn’t looked back. He has, he says, “had the privilege of helping to make history and watch the program grow as the younger athletes find out about and join the program.”

Performance highlights include first overall at the 2009/2010 USASA Nationals, third in the 2010 Para-Snowboard World Cup at Mont-Tremblant and third in the 2009 Para-Snowboard World Championships in New Zealand. He also competed at the 2011 Winter Adaptive X Games at Copper Mountain, USA, though a shoulder injury kept him from finishing.

In May 2012 it was announced that snowboarding would be included in the Sochi Paralympics in 2014. Ian calls this “a dream come true for me and my fellow teammates, adaptive athletes and all those who have supported us along the way!”

TYLER MOSHER

Birthdate: April 1, 1972 (41) Hometown: Whistler Training: Whistler Coaches: Candice Drouin, Dave Hugill Disability Type: 40% paralyzed from the waist down @MosherInspired Paralympic Experience: Vancouver 2010 (Cross Country Skiing: 1 km 22nd, 10 km 23rd, Relay 7th, 20 km DNF)

Event: Men's Snowboard Cross *new event March 13 11:00 pm

Tyler Mosher, a walking paraplegic, is a Vancouver 2010 Paralympian in para-nordic skiing, the 2009 world champion in para-snowboard and 2014 Paralympian for para-snowboard.

After a spinal cord injury while snowboarding on Dec. 30, 2000 left him 40% paralyzed below the waist, Tyler learned to walk again over the next two

years. Although initially not being able to walk in the deep snow of his hometown of Whistler, BC, he began to cross country ski and participate in yoga as a form of rehabilitation to improve his quality of life through sports and healthy living. Around this time, Tyler also helped develop snowboarding for people with a disability both in Canada and around the world.

By 2005, Tyler was back on a snowboard, proving anything is possible if you are willing to try your best, ask for help when needed and keep a positive outlook on life.

In 2007, para-snowboard became a national team sport and since then Tyler has won a world championship title, many World Cups, national titles and participated in the first X Games Snowboard Cross for standing athletes.

Tyler won the first Adaptive Snowboard World Cup in 2008 and was a founding board member of the Whistler Adaptive Sport Program. He placed fourth at the Winter Adaptive X Games, Aspen, USA in 2011.

SLEDGE HOCKEY

JAMES GEMMELL

Birthdate: April 26, 1980 (33) Hometown: Quesnel Training: Surrey Coaches: Mike Mondin, Curtis Hunt Disability Type: Leg amputee @Gemms25_CAN

Event: Sledge Hockey Prelim vs. Sweden: March 8 1:00 am Prelim vs. Norway: March 9 2:00 am Prelim vs. Czech Republic: March 11 9:00 am

James Gemmell was inspired to play sledge hockey after watching Canada win the gold medal at the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Italy. Soon afterwards, he joined the BC Eagles club in Surrey. By 2008, he was on the national team and became the first British Columbia-born player to represent Canada internationally in sledge hockey. He made the team at a National Sledge Hockey Selection Camp in Milton, Ont. Gemmell made his debut at the World Sledge Hockey Challenge in 2008 as Canada won the gold medal.

He has since helped Canada to more gold at the IPC Sledge Hockey World Championships and World Sledge Hockey Challenge in 2013, the 2011 World Sledge Hockey Challenge and at the 2012 Four Nations Cup in Nagano, Japan. Gemmell also took home bronze at the 2012 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championships in Hamar, Norway.

In training, he works on his upper body strength in the gym and also does kayaking. He says that upper body and core strength are the keys to sledge hockey success.

Gemmell had his right leg amputated above the knee after an automobile accident in 2004.

WHEELCHAIR CURLING

JIM ARMSTRONG

Birthdate: June 30, 1950 (63) Hometown: Victoria Training: Cambridge, ON Coach: Joe Rea Paralympic Experience: Vancouver 2010 (GOLD) 1997 BC Winter Games (coach), 1971 Canada Winter Games

Event: Wheelchair Curling Round Robin vs. Great Britain: March 7 9:30 pm Round Robin vs. Russia: March 8 3:30 am Round Robin vs. Sweden: March 9 4:30 am

Round Robin vs. USA: March 9 10:30 pm Round Robin vs. Norway: March 10 4:30 am Round Robin vs. China: March 11 4:30 am Round Robin vs. Korea: March 11 10:30 pm Round Robin vs. Slovakia: March 12 10:30 pm Round Robin vs. Finland: March 13 4:30 am

After a successful career on the British Columbia curling team, Jim transitioned to wheelchair curling in 2007 when he started using a wheelchair as a result of knee and back injuries. Jim began curling in 1958 when he was only eight years old and since then he has accumulated a long record of medals and achievements. As an able- bodied athlete, Jim competed in the Canadian Brier six times, twice as a skip and is the only curler to have won the Ross Harstone Award for Sportsmanship and Ability three times. This award was of great significance to Jim since it is an award voted on by his peers who hold great esteem for Jim and for all he has done for the sport. He served as an on-ice official at various major championships and as president of the World Curling Players’ Association from 1997 to 1999.

Jim’s biggest achievement to date is skipping Team Canada to the gold medal at the 2010 Paralympic Games in Vancouver in front of a jubilant home crowd. Prior to this feat, Jim and the team won the 2009 World Wheelchair Curling Championships held in Richmond, British Columbia which is where Jim lived for many years prior to calling Cambridge, Ontario home. He also skipped the team to gold at the 2011 World Wheelchair Curling Championships.

In 2013, Jim once again demonstrated his masterful skill of reading the ice when he skipped Team Canada to their third consecutive world title at the World Wheelchair Curling Championships.

Jim has the experience, outstanding knowledge of the game and the drive to once again lead the team to the top of the podium at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi.

INA FORREST

Birthdate: May 25, 1962 (51) Hometown: Fort St. John Training: Vernon Coach: Joe Rea Paralympic Experience: Vancouver 2010 (GOLD)

Event: Wheelchair Curling Round Robin vs. Great Britain: March 7 9:30 pm Round Robin vs. Russia: March 8 3:30 am Round Robin vs. Sweden: March 9 4:30 am Round Robin vs. USA: March 9 10:30 pm Round Robin vs. Norway: March 10 4:30 am Round Robin vs. China: March 11 4:30 am Round Robin vs. Korea: March 11 10:30 pm Round Robin vs. Slovakia: March 12 10:30 pm Round Robin vs. Finland: March 13 4:30 am

Ina has been curling since 2004 and in 2006 she was named to the Canadian Wheelchair Curling Team that finished fourth at both the 2007 and 2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championships. In 2009 she and her team won the World Wheelchair Curling Championships and Ina secured a place for herself for the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver where she went on to win the gold medal.

A member of the Vernon Curling club, Ina thinks she is well suited as Second for she likes to throw hits. Ina believes, “curling requires a very steady mental focus and the perfect touch for delivering just the right weight for shots. The time commitment is the most difficult part of being an elite athlete. You want to be the best you can be which requires dedication to practice, fitness and competitions, but fitting everything in with all the other priorities in life gets difficult.”

Ina recalls, “I will always remember when I received my first Team Canada jacket and the pride I felt to be representing Canada. Wearing the maple leaf and hearing the Canadian national anthem in competition is so much more emotionally charged than I ever anticipated. It is a swelling in your chest that threatens to bring on tears. After seven years on the national team you would expect it to lessen but it never does.”

SONJA GAUDET

Birthdate: July 22, 1966 (47) Hometown: North Vancouver Training: Vernon Coach: Joe Rea @SonjaGrocks Paralympic Experience: Vancouver 2010 (GOLD), Turin 2006 (GOLD) 2002 BC Winter Games (coach WC Basketball)

Event: Wheelchair Curling Round Robin vs. Great Britain: March 7 9:30 pm Round Robin vs. Russia: March 8 3:30 am

Round Robin vs. Sweden: March 9 4:30 am Round Robin vs. USA: March 9 10:30 pm

Round Robin vs. Norway: March 10 4:30 am Round Robin vs. China: March 11 4:30 am Round Robin vs. Korea: March 11 10:30 pm Round Robin vs. Slovakia: March 12 10:30 pm Round Robin vs. Finland: March 13 4:30 am

Sonja Gaudet is the world’s most decorated wheelchair curler. The veteran of Team Canada, she has gold medals from the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games where wheelchair curling made its debut in Torino, Italy and from the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games where she won in front a cheering home town crowd filled with friends and admirers. Her long list of achievements also includes three gold medals won at the 2013, 2011 and 2009 World Wheelchair Curling Championships.

After a fall from a horse and sustaining a spinal cord injury, Sonja sought out others who might be able to give her advice on how to sustain the healthy lifestyle she enjoyed before her accident. She turned to Rick Hansen who has been an incredible role model for people with a disability across the world. As Sonja will tell you during her many meetings with Rick, she “bombarded him with questions about adaptive sporting opportunities, how to navigate through life with a spinal cord injury and about raising kids from a wheelchair,” since his children are the same age as Sonja’s and at the time of her accident they were three and six years old.

Sonja believes, “the power of sport has incredible benefits for athletes with a disability. Sport promotes a healthy lifestyle as well as so many great tools for life - a sense of self-worth, confidence, honesty, teamwork, respect, belief in self, perseverance, determination. The list is endless.”

Sonja has a keen interest in accessibility issues in her community of Vernon and lends her experience and knowledge to create new recreational opportunities for people with mobility challenges. She is an ambassador with the Rick Hansen Foundation and the Canadian Paralympic Committee where she uses the power of sport and her experience of overcoming challenges to motivate and inspire people of all ages.

PHOTOS AND BIOS ARE COURTESY OF THE CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE.