full circle
Canadian para-alpine skier 1993, but his birth came with other adults and even family Kirk Schornstein knows the inspiration. That’s what makes some complications. He was members who, because of power of a simple email. me love this sport.” diagnosed with a brachial the stigma surrounding the A mere two years after Schornstein will be racing plexus injury, and although disabled, had a difficult time switching from the ablein the Paralympics in Sochi, Schornstein eventually understanding how he could bodied to the para-alpine Russia this March in all five survived the traumatizing ever achieve his dreams of skiing circuit, he had been alpine-skiing events, and ordeal, the nerves that conskiing competitively. 16 years invited by the Canadian insists he can finish on the potrolled his right-arm didn’t. of unimaginable adversity national team to join them dium in all of them. He admits The injury resulted in a had grown into a massive for their 2009-10 para-alpine the competition level is high condition called Erb’s palsy, chip on Schornstein’s shoulski season. After missing out and the nerves can get to him which caused paralysis to his der, and he used the doubts on qualifying for the 2010 at times, but his reliance on his right arm. The injury someof his critics as fuel going Vancouver Winter Olympics unforgiving work ethic and the times resolves itself within forward. by two tenths of a second, the added luxury of time makes a few months, though in "I had a lot of family then 16-year-old was tapped Schornstein a favourite at the Schornstein’s circumstance, members who said that I by Alpine Canada to take Games this year. Along with it didn’t. will never be successful," over when one of their qualiSochi, Schornstein intends to Despite Schornstein’s Schornstein concedes. "When parti fied skiers withdrew from the unfo cipate in the IPC World rtunate setback from the you don’ t get family support, Games due to an injury. Championship in Canada in get-go, a strong and supportfriend support or even school “Three and a half weeks 2015, and hopes to get another ive family meant approachsupport, it’s a tough challenge before the Games in Vancrack at the Paralympics in ing the now 20 year-old's to push through. But, the couver, I got an email from 2018 in South Korea. condition a bit differently. people that are closest to you the program director saying, But those aren’t his only Rather than sheltering him really stick with you, and that’s 'Congratulations, you are plans; rivaling his passion for from the world — a knee-jerk what meant the most." going to the Paralympic skiing, the idea of attending reaction for some parents It was enough to get him games,' " Schornstein recalls. university has been a constant with disabled children — to the Olympics, an experi"Let me tell you, in three and thought in Schornstein’s Schornstein’s parents instead ence that, despite it’s inherent half weeks, you don’t have mind. After initially considerchallenged him to tackle disappointment in terms time to prepare. You don’t ing the University of British anything he wished, which of results, is one of his most have the mentality to prepare even Columbia, Schornstein is now tually led him to start cherished memories to date. like the other athletes had all but settled on attending the skiing at the age of two. He The omnipresent sight of for four years. I was very University of Alberta as soon competed against able-bodflashing cameras, Canadian overwhelmed... I went to the as he can. ied racers until the age of 14, flags and Paralympic symbols Games more for the experi“I don’t know how long it when he took up racing in the in the crowds overwhelmed ence than for the results.” is going to be until I’m here,” para-skiing circuit, garnering Schornstein at the time, Achieving three top he admits, still needing to do several podium finishes in and four years later, he still 30 finishes in Vancouver, some upgrading after missing the process. remembers what it was like on Schornstein’s first Paralymschool for skiing. “When I looked at myself, top of one of the hills at his first pic campaign didn’t garner “I want to get into comI didn’t see myself as disabled slalo m event. the results he was hoping for puter science. I’m not sure in comparison to a lot of “It was on the weekend — and yet, few, if any, were if I want to be a programdisabled people, so I could so the hill was covered with left questioning whether he mer or an IT yet, but I am never say I had a reason to people. When you’d go in the had the heart of a Paralyma computer nerd … That’s not do something, because gate, and (the announcers) pian. Expecting Schornstein what I love too. After skiing, I was always told to do it,” said your name, you would to finish in the top with little I’m definitely going to get Schornstein says. hear this ‘HHHAAAAAAAA,’ technical preparation was enrolled for that.” “With the inspiration of and it just hits you. These unrealistic, but expecting Schornstein’s computer my mother helping me, and people are cheering for me, him to be a walking embodiexperience is largely a conmy father, I always just kept right now. And it’s not like ment of power, perseverance, on fight sequence of the enormous ing, and I ended up hockey, it’s not like curling. It’s endurance and faith — skills amounts of computer work where I am today.” you. There’s 10,000 eyes on crucial to the intenselyhe assisted his father with But while his time on the you,” he exclaims. competitive environment over the years. Whether it slopes had its challenges, life “That is what I love about of disabled athletics — was a was hobby or chore, Schornoff the slopes was just as diffi- my sport. I go fast, I show what no-brainer. stein’s parents never made cult when he was growing up. I’m capable of, and that’s what Schornstein was born excuses for him — and 20 He often encountered negaI did to get there. And that’s in Edmonton on March 19, years later, their son hasn’t tive reactions from his peers, my inspiration. Canada is my started either.
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