Team USA Para Nordic Skiing

Para Nordic skiing is broken up into two winter sport disciplines: Para cross-country skiing and Para-biathlon.

Para cross-country skiing is a winter sport involving traveling across snow on skis. Competitors use either sit-skis or standing techniques, depending on their classification, with visually impaired athletes skiing with the assistance of a guide. The sport combines endurance, speed and strategy across varying distances and terrain.

Para-biathlon is a dynamic winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and precision rifle shooting. Athletes alternate between skiing and shooting, requiring endurance, focus and control under pressure. The sport is contested in sitting, standing, and visually impaired classifications, ensuring fair competition based on athletes' abilities. Para biathlon is a true test of both speed and accuracy, where missing targets results in time penalties or additional skiing distances.

Para cross-country skiing has been a part of the Winter Games since the Paralympic Winter Games Örnsköldsvik 1976, starting with the classic technique. The freestyle technique was later added for medal events at the Paralympic Winter Games Albertville 1992. Over the years, advancements in adaptive equipment and increased global participation have contributed to its growth.

Para-biathlon made its Paralympic debut at the Paralympic Winter Games Innsbruck 1988. It became a medal event for men and women at the Paralympic Winter Games Lillehammer 1994, where Nordic skiers competed at the same venue used for the Olympic Winter Games for the first time. The sport was introduced to provide athletes with physical impairments an opportunity to compete in a winter event that required both skiing endurance and precision shooting skills. 

Team USA has a strong history in Para Nordic skiing, producing top-tier athletes who have competed on the international stage. American Para Nordic skiers have earned medals and podium finishes at the world championships and past Paralympic Games, such as multi-sport Paralympian Oksana Masters, who won her first Para-biathlon gold medal in the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games and has been medaling in Para cross-country since the Paralympic Winter Games Sochi 2014.

Para cross-country skiing features events across multiple classifications. Cross-country skiing events range from sprints to long-distance races. Athletes compete in categories based on their mobility and visual impairment levels.

Para-biathlon competitions consist of multiple race formats, including sprint, middle distance and individual events. Athletes navigate a cross-country ski course with designated shooting stations. In each shooting round, they must hit five targets from a distance of 10 meters while controlling their heart rate after intense skiing efforts.

Follow along the Para Nordic skiing athletes' road to the Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

Para cross-country athletes use skis tailored to their classification. Sit-ski competitors use a sled mounted on skis, while standing skiers use standard cross-country skiing equipment with modified bindings if needed.

Para-biathlon athletes use air rifles adapted to their specific needs, including sighting assistance for visually impaired athletes. Skiers use either standard cross-country skis or sit-skis, depending on their classification. The rifles must meet weight and calibration regulations to ensure consistency across all competitors.

Cross-country skiing races take place on groomed trails featuring uphill, downhill and flat sections.

The Para-biathlon course layout varies based on event format and classification. Athletes ski a designated loop before arriving at the shooting range, where they fire from a prone or standing position, depending on their classification. The range consists of five targets at a fixed distance, and missing a target results in a time penalty or an additional skiing loop.