Para alpine skier Eriksson, guide Smith aim to land on Milano-Cortina podium in Paralympic debut

Kalle Eriksson is no stranger to success.

The Canadian Para alpine skier, alongside his guide Sierra Smith, has quickly made a name for himself on the international stage.

During their rookie World Cup season in 2023–24, the pair captured their first World Cup victory and finished third overall in the men’s visually impaired giant slalom standings.

Together, they’ve earned 10 World Cup medals, including two victories in giant slalom, and capped off the season with two silver medals at the shortened world championships in Maribor, Slovenia.

That success continued in 2025, when Eriksson added two more world championship silvers — one in slalom and one in giant slalom — cementing his place among the sport’s rising stars. Now, as he switches focus to his first Paralympic Games when Milano Cortina 2026 competition begins, Eriksson’s name is already among the medal contenders.

The 2025 season, Eriksson says, has been all about building toward that Paralympic moment.

“Last year was a huge building block,” Eriksson explained. With his first Paralympics fast approaching, Eriksson admits that he’s feeling both excitement and nerves.

“It’s going to be really exciting to get there — but also really nerve-wracking,” he said.

The partnership between Eriksson and Smith is the cornerstone of their success. They first connected two seasons ago when Smith, a former national team skier, was helping to coach.

“Immediately, we had a great connection,” Smith told CBC Sports. “We just got to know each other super well right off the bat.”

With a strong foundation they quickly found success. In their first race together they won gold at the Canada Games in 2023.

In visually impaired skiing, trust and communication are everything. The pair