Para Nordic Skiers Use Elite Time Management Skills To Balance Their Jobs And Training Schedules

Nicole Zaino was working toward earning a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington when she was introduced to LUCI, a company that makes smart technology for power wheelchairs. 

Zaino conducted research for LUCI while in graduate school. When it came time for her to pursue a job with the company, she was very clear during the interview process that she also had goals of competing as a sit skier and hopefully qualifying for the Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. 

She needed a job that had flexible hours and was remote since she would often have to travel around the globe for races and training camps. LUCI agreed, hiring her as an independent contractor. 

As a clinical research lead, Zaino directs LUCI’s clinical research and works with universities and hospitals on research projects. She does everything from writing grants to data analysis for the company, whose technology helps people in power wheelchairs avoid accidents. 

“They’ve been really supportive of (my athletic goals), and I think that helps a lot with the stress of trying to balance both the job and skiing,” said Zaino, who’s a member of the U.S. Paralympic Nordic Skiing development team. “But I only work part time. I don’t think I’d be able to do both training and working full time, both at 100 percent.” 

Zaino is among several top American Para Nordic skiers who juggle a hectic schedule that includes working a job in addition to training six days a week during the offseason and traveling much of the winter to compete in races. 

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is observed every October as a way to recognize the positive impact of people with disabilities in the workforce. This month marks the 80th anniversary of NDEAM, which has grown since its start in 1945 as a weeklong observance. 

The theme of this year’s NDEAM is “celebrating value and talent.” 

Zaino and standing skier Dani Aravich are glad that many companies hire people with disabilities and make reasonable accommodations to allow them to perform their jobs. Some companies will also sponsor adaptive athletes, which provides them with a much-needed boost since it can be expensive to compete in Para sports like Nordic skiing. 

But Aravich, a two-time Paralympian, said more awareness is needed. For example, she wonders why some jobs require employees to be able to lift 25 pounds or stand for eight hours, which discourages people with disabilities from applying. 

“I think a lot of employers just miss out on some excellent talent because they’re maybe intimidated by the fact that this person will use a screen reader or they will have some other accessibility accommodation,” Aravich said. “But the disability community really is so vast and wide and interesting and talented, and we have a higher rate of unemployment than those without disabilities. 

“And so it is important that companies really realize (hiring people with disabilities) is also good for their company culture. Having diversity within their company culture is so important, and it will teach their fellow employees a lot. (Companies) will hopefully be able to talk the talk and walk the walk.” 

In addition to being a member of the U.S. Para Nordic national team, Aravich stays busy working multiple jobs and trying to grow the company she helped start. Her jobs include working as a freelance contractor on Team USA’s digital media team and as a social media coordinator for So Every BODY Can Move, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities be more mobile and independent. 

As if that weren’t enough, Aravich partnered with fellow Paralympians Chuck Aoki (wheelchair rugby), Ryan Neiswender (wheelchair basketball) and Brenna Huckaby (snowboarding) to launch Culxtured, a new media collective that seeks to change the way people view Para sports. 

“I’m just pretty intentional with when I’m not at practice getting work done,” Aravich said. “I mean often I’m working nights and weekends, and I don’t work the typical 9-5 hours to get in everything. … But I think it’s really just about figuring out what works for you. Financially, I need to hold a job, and I also really find a lot of purpose in working.” 

Aravich and Zaino live in Bozeman, Montana and are part of a group of Para Nordic skiers who regularly train together, which Zaino said makes it easier for her to balance work and training. 

Since the group starts practice at the same time, Zaino knows when she’ll be free during the day to schedule work meetings. She also makes it a point to work when she’s away from home while attending a training camp for skiing. 

Zaino said it takes a lot of communication to be a researcher and a Paralympic hopeful at the same time. When she starts feeling like there are too many things on her plate, she’ll talk to her boss at LUCI to understand what are the top priorities that she needs to get done because her time is limited. 

“It’s different in every place that I’ve worked in the past, and I have just learned a lot,” Zaino said. “But I have to advocate for myself and ask for accommodations like, ‘Hey, I need this because of my disability.’ And luckily, at my current position, I’m able to get that support, and they definitely understand.” 

Alex Abrams has written about Olympic and Paralympic sports for more than 15 years, including as a reporter for major newspapers in Florida, Arkansas and Oklahoma. He is a freelance contributor to USParaNordic.org on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.