Kimberly Joines

Kimberly, who was born and raised on sport, moved to Lake Louise, Alberta after high school to pursue her love of snowboarding.  In 2000, she sustained a serious spinal injury while jumping in a snowboard terrain park.  Her Paralympic dreams began the moment she knew she would never walk again.

She took up the sport of sit-skiing and has been competing with the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team since 2003.  Just four years after her accident, she finished 3rd in Super G at the 2004 World Championships and was named “Breakthrough Athlete” by Alpine Canada.  Since then, there has been no looking back for Kimberly.  She won a bronze medal at the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games and won the 2008 IPC World Cup Overall Champion by bringing home more than 15 gold medals in one season.

She promotes her passion for athletics by motivating newly injured individuals to get involved in disabled sport. She has been active in her community through Rick Hansen’ Wheels in Motion and the Children’s Wheel Ability Camp, and continues to promote activity through public speaking engagements.  Her personal motto is, “It always works out in the end.  If it isn't working out, it just isn't finished yet.”

Kimberly has recently moved to British Columbia, and is living in the alpine mountain town of Rossland.  She can see the ski hill from her back door and has the opportunity to pursue her passion for skiing with a town that lives for the sport.  Her father has always been her biggest inspiration for succeeding in sport.  He is an athlete, phys-ed teacher and a coach, and continues to support her every move.