Para alpine skier Eriksson, guide Smith earn silver for Canada's 1st medal of Milano-Cortina Paralympics

Para alpine skier Kalle Eriksson and guide Sierra Smith took silver in the men's visually impaired downhill competition for Canada's first medal of the Milano-Cortina Paralympics on Saturday in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

The duo clocked a time of one minute 18.33 seconds at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre to reach the podium in their Paralympic debut.

Austria's Johannes Aigner and Nico Haberl finished 2.25 seconds ahead of them for gold, while Italy's Giacomo Bertagnolli and Andrea Ravelli took bronze in 1:18.64.

Kalle Eriksson, Sierra Smith win silver for Canada’s 1st medal at Milano-Cortina Paralympics

Eriksson, of Kimberley, B.C., and Ottawa's Smith have only been competing together since 2022. They won silver medals in the slalom and giant slalom at last year's world championships and have earned 22 career World Cup medals across three seasons.

The Canadians communicate through a two-way headset.