Disabled Wintersports Australia (DWA) has launched its Para Nordic program with Biathlon Australia being a major partner along with Paralympics Australia and Snow Australia. The program was made possible through a significant "Move it Aus" participation grant from Sport Australia. Para Nordic is a winter Paralympic discipline which includes both Para Cross-Country and Para Biathlon. It is the first formal Para Nordic Skiing program to be established in Australia, which is extremely exciting for both sports!

Read the full Sport Australia /DWA press release here

The program commenced on Saturday, 3rd July 2022 at Falls Creek where 12 experienced able-bodied cross country skiing and biathlon coaches were trained in how to coach/instruct para-nordic athletes. The program moved to Perisher the next weekend and trained a further 12 coaches in para-nordic instructing and coaching.

The long-term goal of the program is to establish the sport of Para Nordic Skiing in Australia, with both summer and winter on-snow programs being available around Australia. Initially the program will provide people with disability the opportunity to participate in Para Nordic XC Skiing and Biathlon across 5 states. These locations include pilot programs in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Wodonga, Jindabyne, Adelaide, Falls Creek, Mt Hotham, and Perisher Ranges.

SSAA Wodonga is a particularly attractive location to develop further as it has capacity to be a summer training location for both para and able bodied biathletes.

The Para-Nordic program will be providing “Freedom on Snow” through adaptive snowsport programs and equipment, training of specialist adaptive snowsport volunteer guides and working with alpine resorts and government to improve disability access to the alpine regions in Australia. Participation in these programs will be low cost or free of charge. The program will run in various location throughout Winter, Summer, and Spring.

To find out more about Para-Nordic including the dates of the upcoming winter and summer programs, click here.