Roundup: Oksana Masters’ Training Is Back To ‘Somewhat Normal’ In her Chase for an Eighth Paralympics

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by Alex Abrams

Every other week we scour the web for the latest going on in the world of U.S. Para Nordic skiing. Here’s what you missed! 

 

Oksana Masters Shares How She Trains While Recovering from Hand Surgery 

Oksana Masters showed the process she follows to continue training while recovering from surgery on her right hand. 

 

Masters, a 19-time Paralympic medalist in Nordic skiing, cycling and rowing, recently shared a video on Instagram in which she describes how she protects her hand during a workout. In the video, she heavily tapes her glove and her sports brace onto her hand before going roller skiing on dryland. 

 

Masters says in the video that it feels good to be able to ski “somewhat normal” again with her hand heavily taped. 

 

“Roadblocks fuel comebacks,” Masters wrote on Instagram. “Update: Injury may have joined the journey, but it doesn’t get to write the ending.” 

Masters, the most decorated U.S. Winter Paralympian of all time, is looking to add to her medal count at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games — which would be her eighth consecutive Paralympics. 

 

She ended the video saying, “Milano Cortina 2026, I’m coming for you.” 

 

Dan Cnossen Travels to World’s Southernmost City to Train on Snow 

Paralympic gold medalist Dan Cnossen traveled to great lengths to get on snow in August. 

 

Cnossen, a seven-time Paralympic medalist, shared with USParaNordic.org that he flew to Ushuaia, Argentina, which is considered the southernmost city in the world, to train on snow and prepare for the upcoming Winter Paralympics. 

 

Cnossen also trained in Ushuaia to get ready for his first Winter Paralympics at the 2014 Sochi Games. 

 

“For me, it just was kind of coming full circle to revisit this area where I had been,” Cnossen told USParaNordic.org. “I reflected upon the many years that I’ve been in the sport, the progress I’ve made, the places I’ve seen, the people I’ve met, and the most amazing thing, though, in addition to that was that none of this was there 12 years ago.” 

 

Cnossen, who’s a member of the U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing national team, has decided to stop competing in the biathlon and plans to instead focus on the cross-country skiing events in Milano Cortina. 

 

“I enjoy training hard. If I ever got to the place where I wasn’t enjoying, it’s time to be done,” Cnossen told USParaNordic.org. “But I still love the sport. I love doing intervals. I love racing. I love the 2-3 hours over distance skis. I love going to new places, so I’m still very motivated.” 

 

Josh Sweeney Trains on Dryland But Focused on Snow 

Like other top American Para Nordic skiers, sit skier Josh Sweeney has been busy training on dryland this offseason. 

 

Sweeney, a two-time Paralympian (once in sled hockey, once in Nordic), has been working toward competing in the biathlon at the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics. He recently shared a video on Instagram that includes footage of himself both roller skiing and racing on snow. 

 

“Dryland training, but my mind’s already on the snow,” Sweeney wrote on Instagram. “Every session brings me closer to the Winter @milanocortina2026 @paralympics.”

Sweeney later posted another video of himself roller skiing with the sun on the horizon, writing “When it all feels too heavy, take some time to just be.”

Nicole Zaino Highlighted as Paralympic Hopeful 

The Team USA Athletes’ Commission recently profiled sit skier Nicole Zaino, who’s looking to make her Paralympic debut in Italy in March.  

 

The commission, which is led by athletes and works to communicate the interests of Team USA, shared a short biography highlighting Zaino’s unique background on Instagram.  

 

“She combines her athletic career with a strong academic background, holding a PhD in Biomechanics and working as a research scientist in the field of assistive technology,” the commission wrote on Instagram. “Passionate about pushing boundaries both on the snow and in the lab, Nicole is dedicated to advancing her sport while contributing to innovations that improve the lives of other!” 

Zaino earned her PhD from the University of Washington before moving to Bozeman, Montana, where U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing is based, to train with the hopes of qualifying for the Winter Paralympics. 

 

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.