Philippe Nadreau wins first Para snowboard World Cup medal

LENK, Switzerland – Philippe Nadreau of Blainville, Que., said earlier this season his goal is to compete at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games this March in Milano Cortina.

The 29-year-old achieved a major milestone on Wednesday as he reached the World Cup Para snowboard podium for the first time in his career with a bronze medal in the men’ snowboard cross.

In the four-man lower limb 2 (LL2) final, Emanuel Perathoner of France took the gold, Keith Gabel of the U.S. was second and Nadreau beat out American Joe Pleban for the bronze.

Last season, Nadreau made his world championships debut at Big White, B.C., and posted a season-high fifth place in the snowboard cross.

“Just reaching the Paralympics would be amazing,’’ Nadreau told CPC at the team’s training camp in Bromont, Que., earlier this season. ‘’Winning a medal would be the ultimate goaI but just competing there would make me very happy.’’

Nadreau started snowboarding at age nine and competed at a high level before his life was derailed as a passenger in a car accident in June 2022. It resulted in a serious injury to his right leg and led to a knee-level amputation.

Watching a video of Tyler Turner winning Canada’s first ever gold medal in Para snowboard at the 2022 Games inspired Nadreau to start riding again.

“I typed ‘para snowboard’ on YouTube, and he was the first one that came up. I saw he was Canadian and I said, ‘I’m going to the Paralympics with him,’’

Nadreau made his competitive debut in a FIS event in March 2024. In January 2025 he made his World Cup debut and two months later he was at the worlds.

“I want to show the world that everything is possible, even after an accident that happens in the middle of your life,’’ Nadreau said.  “Representing my country on the world stage would make me very proud.”

Chase Nicklin of Port Alberni, B.C., was seventh in the men’s LL1 placing third in the small final.

The third stop on the circuit concludes Thursday with another snowboard cross event.