Quick facts
Birthdate
November 1, 2004
Residence
Kimberley, B.C.
Sport
Para Alpine
Classification
VI
Kalle Ericsson and his guide Sierra Smith have established themselves as true medal contenders for the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina.
In their rookie season on the FIS World Cup circuit in 2023-24, the pair emerged as the heirs apparent to Mac Marcoux, who retired after the 2022 Paralympic Games as Canada’s most successful visually impaired Para alpine skier.
They posted their first World Cup victory on February 1, 2024 in slalom and ranked third overall on the circuit in the giant slalom.
Despite knee surgery and a shoulder injury for Ericsson in the off-season, they are off to a flying start in 2024-25. After three World Cups (as of January 16, 2025) they have collected six medals including one giant slalom gold.
Ericsson started to lose his vision three years ago from a rare case of solar retinopathy while skiing on a glacier in northern Sweden.
In 2022, he decided to “embrace my disability” and started ski racing. He immediately fell in love with the sport.
Soon after Ericsson joined forces with his guide Sierra Smith, a former women’s national Canadian ski team member.
The skiers communicate through a two-way headset, with the guide sending cues while in full flight to keep the partner on course.
They shocked themselves with their fast improvement and chemistry as a team.
In their competitive debut at the 2023 Canada Winter Games in P.E.I. they won gold in the giant slalom.
Ericsson already knew all about the Para alpine skiing world before his accident. His father is Lasse Ericsson, a national team Para alpine skiing coach with Team Canada for the past 17 years.