Sisters from Salmon Arm bring silliness and toughness to skiing world stage

A pair of cross country skiing sisters from Salmon Arm, B.C., are both representing Canada on the world stage, for the first time ever, this week.

Natalie Wilkie, 25, is competing at her third Paralympic Games and has been named as one of Canada’s flag bearers.

Her little sister Madeleine, 18, qualified for her first national team and debuted her Maple Leaf-adorned uniform at the World Junior Cross-Country Ski Championships in Norway this week.

After finishing her races in Norway, Madeleine will fly to Italy to cheer on her sister.

“We're like the Paralympic power couple or like, sister-couple," said Natalie on a video call from the national Paralympic training centre in Canmore, Alta.

She said it has been amazing to watch her sister transition from being a little kid learning to ski, to a powerhouse on the international stage.

“I'm just so proud of her because she's worked so hard for everything that she has gotten, and it is really, really cool to see her finally wearing the Team Canada suit,” said Natalie.

“People aren't going to be able to tell us apart,” joked Madeleine at the Larch Hills Society Nordic Club in Salmon Arm, while wearing her new Team Canada uniform.

She said in addition to looking similar, both her and Natalie wear lucky French braids for races and will often add glitter on their cheeks, to keep competition fun.

Madeleine said her older sister is her role model, both on and off skis. 

The sisters grew up three minutes from the Larch Hills Nordic Ski trails, and learned to ski as soon as they could walk.

Natalie lost her ability to hold a ski pole in one hand after an incident in high school and the injury was devastating for the entire Wilkie family. Madeline said through that hard time, she