Sports
Kalle and Sierra’s road to the 2026 Paralympics
Project Notes:
Help Support Kalle and Sierra on their para-alpine journey to the 2026 winter Paralympics in Cortina
-
Fundraiser created 1 year 2 months 25 days ago
Kalle Eriksson is the organizer of this fundraiser.
My Name is Kalle Eriksson, I am an 18-year-old visually impaired (B3) alpine ski racer. I started to lose my vision 3 years ago from a rare case of solar retinopathy while I was skiing on a glacier in northern Sweden. This past year, I decided to embrace my disability and started ski racing. I immediately fell in love with the sport. I based myself in Cochrane Alberta to train five days a week at the Canadian para-alpine training center. I started working with my guide Sierra Smith who is an Ex-Canadian Ski Team member. Sierra is my eyes as we race down the hill. Through a two-way headset, she communicates to me what elements are coming up in the course and how to ski the fastest line possible. We immediately started to pick up speed in training and were starting to shock ourselves with how much we were improving and how well we were working as a team.
Results:
We pushed out of a start gate together for the first time at the 2023 Canada winter games in P.E.I at the end of February, Claiming gold in the Giant Slalom race. In March we competed in the US and Canadian National Championships winning the Gold Medal in every race. Currently, my FIS points rank me 7th in the world in Super Giant Slalom, 5th in Giant Slalom and 6th in Slalom. We know there is more speed to be found through training and mileage in the course. We are a solid team and are both committed to improving technically and racing faster.
After 1 season of racing we have been named as Prospect athletes by Alpine Canada. Sierra and I will have a full season of training and racing together next year with races in Europe and across North America with some World cup starts in the 2023-24 season.
Update (1)
30 Jan 2024 by Kalle Eriksson
We just concluded our first Para World Cup races in Switzerland, marking a significant milestone in our journey. The atmosphere was electrifying, and the competition was fierce, but I am delighted to report that our debut was nothing short of remarkable.
In the Giant Slalom, we clinched a silver and a bronze medal, showcasing the dedication and hard work that goes into our training. Additionally, in the Slalom event, we secured a silver medal, further solidifying our presence on the international stage.
Our journey continues with great momentum as we gear up for a series of World Cup races in Italy. The competition promises to be intense, but with your encouragement propelling us forward, I am confident in our ability to face the challenges head-on.
After the Italian leg of the World Cup, we will be heading back to Canada for a brief respite before returning to Europe at the end of February for the grand finale month of racing. Your belief in my abilities fuels my determination, and I am excited to carry your support with me as we strive for further success on the slopes.
Donors / Words of Support (14)
-
Bryan Simon donated $1,000 CAD
2024-04-08 -
Rob sisttie donated $500 CAD
Keep Going!!!!!!!!!! Brilliant!
2024-02-01 -
Tom and Maria Christély donated $500 CAD
2024-01-23 -
Gord Cudney donated $1,000 CAD
2023-10-17 -
Rob Sisttie donated $750 CAD
Go Kalle, Go Sierra!
2023-10-02 -
Haylee Laturnus donated $25 CAD
2023-09-14 -
Gina & Tim Dusyk donated $500 CAD
2023-09-14 -
Bronwyn Funiciello donated $25 CAD
As a visual impaired athlete myself, congratulations and best of luck
2023-09-14 -
Ceder Harrison donated $15 CAD
2023-09-13 -
Dorothy Amy donated $100 CAD
Awesome!
2023-09-12
$11,115 CAD raised of $15,000 goal
-
Wolf Von Teichman
$2,700 CAD • Top donation -
Bryan Simon
$1,000 CAD • Recent donation -
Todd Cowan
$500 CAD • First donation
