ATHLETICS
Tyler has been always been an avid participator in athletic pursuits for fun and personal growth. After his accident, when most people would have resigned themselves to a life of sedentary observation of the sports and activities previously enjoyed, Tyler saw an opportunity for rehabilitation and inner development.
Seeing how quickly Tyler gained proficiency in snowboarding and nordic skiing, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was an easy recovery from a less-debilitating injury. The truth is that it was the hardest thing he ever did. Determined not to let his accident destroy his life, he set out completely re-learn how to control a snowboard, and took up the new sport of cross-country skiing. Read about Tyler’s participation in these sports and see his race results below.
Creation
Adaptive Snowboarding is a relatively new sport. People living with disabilities have been snowboarding for years. Unfortunately organized snowboarding for people living with a disability hasn’t existed to the level of other winter sports. In large part because snowboarding is a newer sport. Tyler realized this a couple years after his spinal cord injury and met with the Disabled Ski Program in Whistler and suggested they offer snowboarding. The program officials agreed and Tyler became involved in the development of what has become the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program (WASP). Later that year, Tyler made a presentation at the AGM of the Canadian Snowboard Federation (CSF) in favor of Adaptive Snowboarding and the development thereof. The board made a motion to make Adaptive Snowboarding part of their mandate and from then on the CSF have developed a National Team, Hosted the First Ever World Cup and are leaders in the World for the development of Adaptive Snowboarding.
Growth of the Sport
The development of Adaptive Snowboarding is slow and arduous throughout the World without the inclusion in the Winter Paralympic Games. People from around the World living with a disability have been snowboarding for years and the first true international competition was likely in 2005 at the USASA National Championships. Since then, Riders, their Nations and the World Snowboard Federation (WSF) have developed a model for competition at an international level. This is a “Sling-Shot Boarder Cross” which in short is the riders going through a Snowboard Cross Course one-at-a-time in a time trail circumstance with the best time of three runs determining the winter after percentage factoring where appropriate to determine a level playing field.
The Barrier and Dream
It should be noted that Adaptive Snowboarding is a recognized sport by Sport Canada, yet until it becomes a Paralympic Sport it will lack the funding needed to truly develop the sport around the world. As a grass-roots movement and through the help of certain Nations, Snowboard Federations and Guidance by the International Paralympic Committee, we hope to have the sport developed to a level of participation and professionalism to be included in the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games.
Tyler’s Participation
Tyler is the 2009 World Adaptive Snowboarding World Champion held in Cadrona, New Zealand; the 2009 Canadian National Champion held at Grouse Mountain, Vancouver, Canada and he won the first ever World Cup in Adaptive Snowboarding in 2008 on the same Mountain where he had his Spinal Cord Injury Paralyzing him for life; Blackcomb Mountain, Whistler, Canada. Tyler is very active in the sport community for Adaptive Snowboarding and has been competing internationally since 2005. Please do not hesitate to email him if you have any questions or would like to know more about Adaptive Snowboarding.
The Spark that Started the Fire
Tyler took up Cross Country Skiing as a form of rehabilitation from his spinal cord injury. After spend a winter watching the snow fly from inside his house in Whistler, Tyler needed a change. He thought Cross Country Skiing would help his mobility, core strength and self esteem by getting outdoors in a passive manner. He had no idea how hard it would be.
The Struggle to Become Elite
Not only was he paralyzed in the backs of his legs, but It is super hard to ski well. A year later he was looking at what it would take to race and met the Canadian National Team Coach in April of 2003. Eight Months Later, Tyler set a goal to compete in the 2010 Winter Paralympic Games for Canada in Para-Nordic events. Seven years later he did it. Through goal setting and perseverance, Tyler competed at the games in a sport he took up at 30 years of age after his spinal cord injury.
Expanding his Career
He was part of the National Relay Team for Cross Country and came 7th, 21st in 10km Classic and 19th in the Classic Sprint. Tyler now looks forward to the 2011 season when he is attempting to accomplish what only about a 100 people in the world have; complete all three 55km Classic Ski Marathons called Birkebeiner. This race originated in Norway and people all around the world compete in these epic races located in three countries. However, there is a catch, Tyler is going to do all three in one year and not even 10 people are known to accomplish this. So keep in touch to see how it Works out. The Races are in Edmonton Canada February 12, Wisconsin USA February 26 and Lillehammer Norway March 19, 2011. Wish me luck!
More Information
For more information on Para-Nordic Skiing please go to www.cccski.com
Check out Tyler’s Race Results over his career:
Sport Notables |
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| 2011 Haakon Haakonson Award | Canada/USA/Norway | Cross Country Birkebeiner 3x55km Ski Marathons | 2011 |
| 2011 Winter X Games | Colorado, USA | Inaugural Adaptive X Games Boarder Cross | 2011 |
| 2010 Paralympian | Whistler, BC Canada | IPC Para-Nordic (Cross Country Skiing) | 2010 |
| 2009 World Champion | New Zealand | WSF World Championship Adaptive Snowboard | 2009 |
| Athlete of the Year Award | British Columbia, Canada | Sport BC – Harry Jerome Comeback Award | 2004 |
2010 Vancouver Paralympic Winter Games |
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| 7th | Whistler, BC Canada | Paralympic Games Cross Country Ski Relay | March 2010 |
| 21st | Whistler, BC Canada | Paralympic Games Cross Country Classic Spint | March 2010 |
| 23rd | Whistler, BC Canada | Paralympic Games Cross Country Classic 10km | March 2010 |
Recent Adaptive Snowboard Results |
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| Bronze Medal | Kananaskis, AB Canada | WSF Para- Snowboard World Cup | 2012 |
| Silver Medal | Orcieres France | WSF Para-Snowboard World Cup | 2011 |
| 4th | Lake Louise, AB Canada | WSF Para-Snowboard World Cup | 2011 |
| 6th | Lake Louise, AB Canada | WSF Para-Snowboard World Cup | 2011 |
| 4th | Aspen CO USA | ESPN Winter X Games Adaptive Boarder Cross | 2011 |
| Gold Medal | Copper Mountain, CO USA | WSF Para-Snowboard World Cup | 2010 |
| Gold Medal | Mount Tremblant, QC Canada | WSF Para-Snowboard World Cup | 2010 |
| World Champion | Cardona, New Zealand | Adaptive Snowboarding (Snowboard Cross) | 2009 |
| Gold Medal | Colorado, USA | USA Snowboard Association National Championships in Adaptive Alpine Parallel Giant Slalom, Bronze Parallel Slalom | 2009 |
| Gold Medal | Vancouver, BC Canada | Canadian National Championships in Adaptive Boarder Cross | 2009 |
| Gold Medal | Whistler, BC Canada | World Cup (WSF) Snowboard Cross for the Disabled | 2008 |
| Gold Medals – 1st Over All Alpine | Colorado, USA | USA Snowboard Association National Championships in Adaptive Alpine events Parallel Giant Slalom, Parallel Slalom, Boarder Cross | 2008 |
| Silver Medals | Lake Tahoe, CA USA | USA Snowboard Association National Championships in Adaptive Alpine events Parallel Giant Slalom, Parallel Slalom, Boarder Cross and Bronze Medal for Half Pipe | 2007 |
| Gold Medals | Lake Tahoe, CA USA | USA Snowboard Association National Championships in Adaptive Alpine events Parallel Giant Slalom, Parallel Slalom, Boarder Cross and Silver Medal for Half Pipe | 2006 |
| Gold Medal | Colorado, USA | USA Snowboard Association National Championships GS Adaptive Alpine | 2005 |
2009 Cross Country Results |
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| 5th | New Zealand | IPC Sanctioned NZ Winter Games 15km Classic Cross Country | August 2009 |
| 19th | Whistler, BC Canada | IPC World Cup Sprint Classic Cross Country | March 2009 |
| 24th | Whistler, BC Canada | IPC World Cup 10km Classic Cross Country | March 2009 |
2008 Cross Country Results |
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| 11th | Ness, Norway | IPC World Cup Sprint Classic Cross Country | March 2008 |
| 13th | Oberstdorf, Germany | IPC World Cup 20km Classic Cross Country | January 2008 |
| 18th | Oberstdorf, Germany | IPC World Cup 10km Free Technique Cross Country | January 2008 |
| 22nd | Isny, Germany | IPC World Cup 10km Free Technique Cross Country | January 2008 |
| 18th | Vuokatti, Finaland | IPC World Cup 10km Classic Cross Country | January 2008 |
| 24th | Vuokatti, Finaland | IPC World Cup Sprint Free Technique Cross Country | January 2008 |
| 24th | Vuokatti, Finaland | IPC World Cup Sprint/Pursuit Biathlon | February 2008 |
2007 Cross Country Results |
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| Gold Medal | International | Nor-Am Disabled Standing Men Classic Cross Country Sprint | December 2007 |
| Bronze Medal | International | Nor-Am Disable Standing Men Free Technique 15km | December 2007 |
| Gold Medal | International | 2008 World Cup Qualifiers Disable Men Classic Cross Country 10km | November 2007 |
| Silver Medal | International | 2008 World Cup Qualifiers Disable Men Classic Cross Country 5km | November 2007 |
| Gold Medal | Canada | Canadian National Championships Disabled Standing Men Classic Cross Country | Mid 2007 |
| Gold Medal | Canada | Canadian National Championships Disabled Standing Men Classic Cross Country | Spring 2007 |
| 15th | Vuokatti, Finland | IPC World Cup 20km Classic XC | January 2007 |
| 20th | Oberstdorf, Germany | IPC World Cup Classic Cross Country Sprint | January 2007 |
| 18th | Oberstdorf, Germany | IPC World Cup 5km Classic XC | January 2007 |
| 12th | Oberstdorf, Germany | IPC World Cup 20km Classic XC | January 2007 |
Join Team Tyler
Tyler is currently seeking help to complete all three Birkebeiner’s this year and to compete in the European Snowboarding World Cup. Only about 100 people in the world have completed all three 55km Birkebeiner Cross Country Ski Loppets and about 8 or 9 people have completed all three in one year.
Please contact Tyler at tyler@tylermosher.com
Thanks for your consideration.
Tyler would like to thank all those who have helped throughout the years. In particular:
- Ossur for orthotics and CTI for custom knee braces,
- Alison Forsyth @ Lululemon Athletica Wear for Comfy Training Clothes that look great and fit better,
- Mike Doble @ Alpina Canada for Exel Ski Poles and Alpina Ski Boots,
- Jeff Martino at Face Shot Venture Inc for Burton Snowboard Gear at pro-form prices.
- Local ski shops including Stussi in Vernon, Sigge’s on 4th in Vancouver, the Nordic Shop in Squamish,
- The Callaghan Country and Whistler Olympic Park people and Cross Country Connection in Whistler at Lost Lake.
- Jon Blok and Bob Allison at The Core – Climbing Gym where I train; I recommend their Gym if you are in Whistler; especially if you want to climb some walls.
There are obviously other people who help me such as coaches and my doctors at Northlands Medical Clinic. If you ask for help when you are already helping yourself, I find people are keen to be part of your success!
If you are interested to help Tyler achieve his goals by donating Funds, please email him at tyler@tylermosher.com. Any and all help is appreciated.
Thanks for your consideration.
PHOTOS & VIDEO
Check out our media page for pics and clips of Tyler in action.