(West Vancouver, BC – January 30, 2009) The Canadian Snowboard Federation (CSF) held its largest National Adaptive Snowboarding Championships yesterday at Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver, British Columbia where athletes from five nations competed for the title. The championships were followed by an innovative Sport Building Workshop with stakeholders from around the globe which occurred today in Vancouver.

Tyler Mosher

In the men’s category, Tyler Mosher of Whistler, BC won the event by posting a best time of 23.38 seconds with an impressive lead of 1.57 seconds over silver medalist Ian Lockey.

“Today was a great day. I am really proud to have a National team and a national event with World-class athletes competing here in Canada. I was really happy with the course, the set-up and with the availability of coaches and volunteers. It was especially great to come in first place,” said Mosher after the race, who also won the first ever World Cup race held last year in Whistler, BC.

Mosher is an incomplete paraplegic, paralyzed 20% below the waist, who rides standing up.

Keith Deutsh

“Having five nations competing here is a great sign of the evolution of snowboarding. Now other nations are starting to recognize adaptive snowboarding as a sport. It’s pretty amazing to see some other riders come out here to Canada with their own money, their own coaches and their own skills,” continued Mosher, an environmental planner by profession born in Wolfville, Nova-Scotia.

In the Ladies category, Emily Cavallin of Telka, British Columbia won the gold by posting a best time of 27.48 seconds, edging her closest competitor, Nicole Roundy, by 0.46 seconds.

“It’s awesome day where we rode on a pretty fun course with lots of bumps and rollers, and good technical difficulties. We were fortunate the weather cooperated as the day progressed,” said Cavallin, which finished second in last year’s Canadian Championships.

In July of 2000, Cavallin was diagnosed with osteosarcoma cancer – the same type of bone cancer that Terry Fox had – which resulted in the amputation of her lower leg.

“I feel so privileged and honour to take part in this event, and be under the Canadian snowboard federation with coaching and the support they give is phenomenal,” continued Cavallin. “The sport will only get better. People are starting to hear about the sport and their potential to actively participate in it. Hopefully, more girls will look at it and say ‘You know, I can do that to’ and the sport will grow.”

Carl Murphey

The Canadian Adaptive National Championships welcomed snowboarders with physical disabilities from around the globe who competed in a one-rider version of snowboardcross. The one-rider version of snowboardcross consists of the best three time trial runs.

For the third time, Canada hosted an innovative International Sport Building Workshop in Vancouver, British Columbia, where world leaders from around the world, including officials, coaches, athletes and administrators were invited to discuss the continued development of Adaptive Snowboarding as well as establishing a network of expert resources.

“The significance of holding this event is its ability to draw an international adaptive snowboard athletic field, as well as the development of a classification process, providing the stage from which the pursuit of entry into the IPC Paralympic Winter Games for either 2014 or 2018 can be successfully driven,” said Tom McIllfaterick, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Snowboard Federation.

In 2008, the CSF became a world leader by hosting the first ever adaptive snowboarding World Cup in Whistler, British Columbia. The international event made history by introducing classification concepts for the first time in the history of the sport around the globe.

“Our goals for the sport is to increase awareness, increase the participation of young riders and build a base which will ultimately allow its inclusion in the Paralympic Winter Games,” continues McIllfaterick.

The CSF recognizes the significant interest in making the sport accessible to persons with disabilities and, as the national governing body for the sport of snowboarding, is addressing this interest through various initiatives within the Canadian Adaptive Snowboard Program.

Men's Podium

Adaptive snowboarding refers to a modified version of the sport, with changes in equipment, rules, and technical specifications that enable persons with physical disabilities to participate in both recreational and competitive activities

Adaptive snowboard events include male and female athletes with a physical disability such as spinal injury, cerebral palsy, amputation, or visual impairments. Athletes compete based on their functional ability, allowing athletes with different disabilities to compete against each other.

The CSF’s philosophy for adaptive snowboarding is to have it fully integrated with the delivery of programs and activities for able-bodied participants of the sport. Adaptive snowboarding is currently integrated into Vision 2020: The Long Term Athlete Development Plan for Snowboarding, and into the Canadian Snowboard Coaching Program.