A n initiative involving Ski Nova Scotia, Canadian Adaptive Snowsports Nova Scotia (CADS-NS) and Special Olympics Nova Scotia will see the latter put together their own programming, coaching and team.

A Feb. 9 ski event at Wentworth saw Special Olympics Nova Scotia involved in its first Alpine Ski Event, hosted by the Wentworth Racing Club. 

 Ski NS Special Olympics coach Peter McCormick is excited about the new endeavour. 

 “Special O has never had an alpine program in Nova Scotia. It was time to allow this opportunity for these athletes to try a new sport and challenge,” he said. 

 Special Olympics alpine ski is only in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, B.C., Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Nova Scotia now joins that cohort. 

 McCormick says representation for athletes is paramount and having the team here is crucial. 

 “These multisport athletes are looking for opportunities to showcase their athletic abilities any way they can,” he said. 

 “The ski organizations in N.S. are ready and willing to accept and help these athletes to be part of the alpine skiing community.” 

 Ski Nova Scotia coaching director Joey Graham says this is a fantastic thing for the sport and the province. 

 “I think it’s such a long time coming. I’m so proud of this and that we’ve done this as a sport organization. To be up there with those other provinces doing this is special,” she said. 

 “We have a strong CADS program — which is cognitive and neurodiversity driven — which is more at the community level. This here is now the next step in our competitive stream.” 

 To see different organizations, agencies and sports bodies come together to make this happen has been encouraging. The event on Feb. 9 was a great showcase of that. 

 “For the volunteers to share our love of ski racing with the Special Olympic athletes was amazing. It was a success, and we’re all better for having this as part of the ski community,” she said. 

 “Peter has had such success in other sports with these athletes that this was a natural progression. He’s such a fantastic coach.” 

 Bringing Special Olympics skiing to the forefront like this is a hugely important thing, says Graham. 

 “This is just fantastic. Sometimes people with differences are met with roadblocks. This was never an issue with our ski community. Everyone wanted to work together. Any issues were taken care of.” 

 For McCormick, seeing the reaction and newfound love of the sport from athletes and their parents is a huge win. 

 “This also marks a coming together of a whole ski community to help and provide support, and that’s beautiful and wonderful,” he said. 

 “The athletes are happy when we are together on the hill. They are thrilled and scared when they get into the starting gate. When they finish a race they just want to go again.” 

McCormick has big sights for the athletes, including provincials next year, a nationals qualification for 2027, and the worlds in Switzerland in 2029. 

 “I want to be clear that this isn’t possible without the community coming together. It’s truly really important and wonderful,” he said.