By Mike Edwards • Telemark Nordic Club
Like many in the valley, Emily Young is a transplant who fell in love with the Okanagan. Originally from North Vancouver, she met an Okanagan boy while they were both training for endurance sports and together they made the most of the joys of the four season outdoor lifestyle they both loved. “Having all the beautiful seasons to enjoy and train in is the best, and the training opportunities here are unbeatable,” she says. She and Chris met while they were both racing triathlons and together made the most of the beautiful south Okanagan roads to train for several Ironman triathlons including Ironman Canada in Penticton. In her own words, she has “put down roots here and is here to stay”. Indeed, her involvement in competitive sports has very much guided the path she has taken in her life bringing her much joy and a sense of accomplishment. The journey has most recently grown to include starting a family when she and her husband Chris welcomed their first child into their lives early in 2024.
Always actively involved in competitive sports, Emily caught the wrestling bug in high school and aspired to compete at a high level. However, following a freak accident in training just prior to the Canada Games in 2009 she faced years of rehab and ultimately sustained severe nerve damage leaving her unable to use her arm to its fullest capacity. Never one to shy away from a challenge, she pursued a range of sports after her injury and joined the Canadian paralympic team in her early twenties.
She went on to compete in cross-country skiing and biathlon
(a combination of skiing and shooting at targets) Internationally between 2018 and 2022 achieving many podium finishes. Her career highlights include winning silver in the mixed relay team at the World Para Nordic Skiing Championships in 2019, double medallist at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games and three-time World Championship team member
(2015, 2017, 2019). She was the only female of the historic relay team winning bronze (a first) for Canada at the 2017 World Championships.
“Joining the Canadian Paralympic Team and having the opportunity to train with some of the best skiers in the country, especially Robin McKeever and being involved with the Canadian Ski Institute in Calgary showed me that small changes to technique can make a huge difference in performance,” Emily says. “I love that you can really focus on a goal and through hard work and effort, achieve it.”
Now Emily supports Team Telemark Race Team athletes throughout their journey whether it’s on the path of high performance or just being the best they can be. As head coach for the cross-country race team at Telemark Nordic, Emily leads the competitive program for Nordic skiing which includes both freestyle skate and classic ski technique. “I love that coaching combines my love for education and a love of the outdoors, coaching skiing brings together the best of both worlds for me,” she says. “It also gives me a chance to combine my background in kinesiology and physical education, giving me the opportunity to apply both interests to help our athletes achieve their goals.”
“I would tell anyone who is in their teens and who has a love for sport to keep their options open and enjoy the process! It may seem like you need to make big life choices early on to succeed, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth,” says Emily. “Enjoy yourself and throw yourself into what you love. Passion is one of the greatest motivators! Keep your focus on your goals and trust the process,” she says.
Promoting a love of sport for life along with inclusivity is an integral part of the fabric that holds together the ski community at the club and on the race team. Emily is looking forward to the summer ‘dry-land’ season as well as the ‘24-’25 winter race season. In the meantime, she is savouring the sweet moments in life with her three-month old daughter and taking a break from her own competitive career. “I love the vibe at the club, the energy of the kids is so inspiring and I love that everyone in the community is so supportive of one another.”
To learn how your family can get involved, please visit
www.telemarknordic.com.