Canadian Para Crystal Globe winners excited for Milano Cortina 2026

TORONTO – Tyler Turner, Canada’s first ever Paralympic Games Para snowboard champion, says this past season had some of the most “terrifying” moments in his career as he captured world championships and World Cup snowboard cross season titles in 2024-25.

Turner and Para nordic star Mark Arendz reflected on their winter late last week in an interview with CBCSports.ca.

‘’The whole season came down to one race,’’ recalled Turner, from Campbell River, B.C., about his World Cup campaign and earning his third straight Crystal Globe as the snowboard cross season champion. ‘’It’s pretty incredible. It was a three-way tie (with Americans Noah Elliott and Mike Schultz) with the winner take all. The pressure’s high and it’s absolutely terrifying.”

‘’It was probably the most nerves in my racing career, but I mean that was great.”

Despite the stress, the 36-year-old Turner, who lost both legs below the knee because of a skydiving accident in 2017, is thankful to have these kinds of unique experiences.

‘’I like to think this is all just bonus,” he said. ‘’Who thought I’d be here. This is kind of my second shot at a snowboarding career. I was looking for a threepeat for the Crystal Globe, it was terrifying, but I held it together.’’

Arendz is a four-time Paralympian with 12 medals and at age 35 is still very difficult to dislodge from the podium, particularly in Para biathlon. He collected his third straight Crystal Globe in that discipline as well as two more world titles.

‘’On the World Cup it all comes down to those last couple of races,” said Arendz, from Hartsville, PEI. ‘’You’re in the running and your head gets involved a little bit more, you start thinking.

‘’That all leads up to those performances on demand which those last few races do become. The Paralympics are the pinnacle of performance on demand.”

With less than a year until the Milano Cortina Paralympic Games, set for March 6-15, 2026 in Italy, Arendz has his eyes on some prizes.

‘’I’m excited about these Games because of the opportunity and the curiosity to see what’s possible,” he said. ‘’There are a few races I can circle on the calendar and pick out as favourites. I’m curious about what I can do over the next 11 months.”

For his part, Turner is chomping at the bit to race at his second Games.

“The build-up is so long and intense,’’ he said. ‘’It takes a lot out of you. I’m already at the first training camp of next season. Last season is in the rear view mirror. Now the entire focus is to get on the top spot of the podium again.

‘’But whatever the outcome I just want to be proud of my performance and I’m ready for that.”