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

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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 communicate through a two-way headset, with Smith sending cues while in full flight to keep Eriksson on course.

“It’s a really close relationship,” Smith said. “Getting along with your guide makes a huge difference. The connection is everything.”

Training for Milano Cortina 2026

As they prepare for the 2026 Paralympics, Eriksson and Smith have focused on refining every detail of their performance.

“It’s been a lot of time on snow, a lot of training,” Eriksson said.

And as part of his training to be a medal contender in 2026, Eriksson added that it’s the small things that make a big difference

“I really dialled in everything — gym training, ski training and all the aspects of equipment, so there’s been a lot of prep in that sense for it,” Eriksson said.

Smith also noted the vast amount of time spent training together has helped develop their relationship.

“We spent a lot of time with each other and going up the chairlift, just chatting all the time and now we’re like best friends on and off the hill,” Smith said.

Eriksson’s connection to skiing began early, growing up close to the hill in his hometown of Kimberley, B.C., where he started skiing at just two years old. 

Both Eriksson and Smith come from families deeply rooted in skiing. Smith’s mother and grandfather were both national team members, while Eriksson’s father, Lasse Eriksson, has been a coach with Canada’s Para Alpine Ski Team for more than 17 years. The family was already well versed in Para sport when Kalle began losing his vision.

Though it was mostly for fun, he was constantly immersed in the sport through Lasse.

“He would be on the hill with me and help me coach, like he called it,” Lasse said, adding that years of exposure to different forms of skiing made Kalle’s transition back to the sport easier after losing his vision.

Following his accident, Kalle took time to adjust to his new reality, and when he was ready, Lasse supported him in returning to the snow.

After graduating, Kalle was in search of a new challenge, and although he was hesitant about ski racing, Lasse encouraged him to try it with no pressure. Lasse brought Kalle to a Para alpine program in Cochrane, Alta.

“I said, well, let’s give it a week and if you don’t like it, I’ll come and get you,” Lasse said.

Two days later, Kalle called him back: “He said, ‘I’m going to stay the whole season — this is awesome,” Lasse recalls. From there, things took off.

Lasse believes Kalle’s athletic background helped him adapt quickly.

“He already knew how to ski, and being a hockey player taught him to adjust fast,” Lasse said.

Lasse is proud of the work that both Eriksson and Smith have put into their craft. He knows that athletic ability will take Kalle far, but just as important has been the relationship between he and his guide.

“It’s a big level of trust that needs to form, which can take some time,” Lasse said, “but it seemed like they clicked really well from the get-go.”

Embracing his disability

In 2022, while skiing on a glacier in northern Sweden, Eriksson began to lose his vision due to a rare case of solar retinopathy. The diagnosis forced him to confront a new reality.

“When I first started dealing with my disability, it felt like a lot of doors got shut,” he said. “There were things I wanted to do with my life that were taken away pretty quickly.”

With this realization, Kalle remained optimistic knowing there were other possibilities out there to continue with the sport. That mindset helped him accept — and eventually embrace — a new way to enjoy and succeed at it.

“Every day is a learning opportunity,” Eriksson said in reflection of his journey.

From navigating sight-loss to climbing World Cup podiums, Eriksson’s path has been defined by resilience and belief. With Smith by his side, he now aims to author a new chapter — a pursuit that could end on the Paralympic podium in Milano Cortina 2026.

Eriksson begins his quest for a medal on March 7 in the men’s downhill VI. The full schedule is available here.