ABOUT THE ONTARIO PARA ALPINE SKI TEAM (OPAST)
The Ontario Para-Alpine Ski Team’s goal is to educate, promote and train para-alpine ski racing in the province of Ontario. As members of AOA these athletes train and compete together to promote para-alpine ski racing locally, provincially, nationally & internationally. The team participates in a weekly fitness training tracking program and in a spring and fall testing program at the CSIO Toronto (Canadian Sports Institute of Ontario – Toronto). Personalized, incremental strength and conditioning programs will continue throughout the fall months until the athletes return to snow in November.
The OPAST has a long legacy of moving athletes to the Canadian stage.
2023-24 OPAST HEAD COACH
Nick Kwasniak
2023-24 OPAST ATHLETES
Andrea Nelson
Para Class: Sit Skier
Spinal cord injury, skiing 2018
Hometown: Markham
Age: 32
Education/ Career: I am a Recreational Therapist, past summer Paralympian, and currently work for the Ontario Para Collective.
Goal: I hope to attend the winter Paralympic Games, and to reach a level where I can medal at international events
Andrea learned to ski when she was 4 years old, and started snowboarding at age 12. She grew up spending the weekends on the slopes with her family, and continued to ski and snowboard into adulthood. After her injury, she started sit-skiing as soon as possible, thanks to CADS, and has been working towards racing ever since.
James Budrow
Para Class:
Hometown:
Age:
Education/Career:
Goal:
Janie Duguay
Para Class: Sit Skier
Spinal Cord injury, employee injury
Hometown: Gaspe, Quebec
Age 37
Education/Career: Janie is currently working on a Law Degree, while volunteering her time with the Quebec Adaptive Foundation as a water skiing, kayaking, paddle boarding volunteer/instructor. She also volunteers with Soldier On and the Quebec Veterans Foundation, to help other veterans with physical/psychological injuries, socialize and be physically active.
Goal: 100 days on snow, to be competitive at National Championships March 2023
Janey joined the National Defence as an artillery soldier in 2004. She was deployed to Afghanistan in 2006 as a Gunner with the 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. During her service, she conducted avalanche control in the Rockies, participated in exercises and training all over the country and the USA. She suffered a few injuries while serving, eventually resulting in being wheelchair bound.
Jessica McPhee
Para Class: Sit Skier
Spinal cord injury, skiing 2018
Hometown: Dorchester
Age: 35
Education/Career: Graduated from the University of Waterloo with a BASc in Management Engineering and have been working for PepsiCo Foods Canada for 10 years. In her current role as Commercialization Manager for Frito Lay Canada, she plans how to manufacture and distribute all new product offerings at scale.
Goal: To make the podium at Canada Games and place in the top 10 at National Championships this year.
Jessica has skied recreationally since the age of 6 with her family and it has been a passion of hers throughout her life. After her accident, she joined the CADS program at Craigleith, and quickly found that racing was a possibility!