Canada's Para alpine skiers, young and experienced, look ahead to Milan Cortina

Kurt Oatway wasn't surprised when he saw just a strip of snow on the slope for the FIS Para alpine world championships in Maribor, Slovenia.

While the able-bodied FIS alpine world championships went perfectly in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, the Para worlds had more than a few rocky moments just over one year before the Milan-Cortina Paralympic Games.

"We saw the webcams, and there was very little snow," Oatway, 40, said.

"The organizing committee and FIS representative who was working through it said the snow control is good, and the program was confirmed ... But as soon as we get there, it's downhill cancelled, and we're like, 'yeah, no kidding.'"

It's a stark difference between the competitions organized by FIS, the world skiing governing body. In 2022, FIS took control of Para alpine from the International Paralympic Committee, which previously ran World Cup events.

The world championships were initially scheduled to occur in the experienced venue of Bardonecchia, Italy, but organizers pulled out, leaving FIS to find an alternative solution.

WATCH | IPC boss says Paralympics leaving lasting legacy: 

IPC President Andrew Parsons says Paralympics leave lasting legacy on host cities

Canadians won three silver medals in the giant slalom and slalom, with visually impaired skier Kalle Ericsson and guide Sierra Smith reaching the podium alongside standing athlete Alexis Guimond.

"The sport can sometimes be difficult with weather, but I was lucky we got the GS race, and I got silver. It's looking up for the rest of the season too," Guimond, 25, said. "FIS is pretty new [at organizing para events], but they're open to listening to the athletes, which is good, and that's a big change in a good direction.

Oatway and