Living out his dream
Visually impaired Greenwood teen ready to ski on national stage for Team Nova Scotia
Hayden Denouden skis cleanly down the hill, moving across the slopes and around the gates with apparent ease. The visually impaired athlete does it with the help of a guide, Zianne Khalifa, skiing ahead of him.
“Me and Zianne, we have a mic set on our helmets and she basically tells me when to turn,” Hayden explained.
Hayden, 14, doesn’t have any depth perception or peripheral vision. What most people can see 200 feet away, he can only see in 20 feet.
It hasn’t stopped Hayden, who lives with his mother Cheyanne d’Entremont, stepdad Trevor West and sister Gracie in Greenwood, from competing. He has been skiing since he was five years old. Initially, it was recreationally but he got into racing when he was nine.
“I really enjoy the speed and the satisfaction of getting it right,” Hayden said.
Khalifa, a Bedford native, was approached by the president of the Martock Ski Race Club during her second year competing at the under-18 age category.
“I was a racer before and then I went straight from racing into guiding,” she explained. “It really means the world to me to be able to continue (in the sport).”
Hayden’s dedication, commitment and willingness to learn the sport makes his mom smile with pride.
“He’s brave. … He’s always done what other able-bodied, sighted kids have done,” d’Entremont said. “I was excited because he didn’t let his disability stop him.”
She said it is vital these opportunities are available for youth.
“I think it’s super important for their confidence, their self-esteem and not only in sport, (but) in life.”
And Gracie, who is three years younger, guides Hayden at times when they are skiing recreationally.
“It’s heartwarming,” d’Entremont said. “She’s always looked out for him.”
NEXT CHALLENGE
Now Hayden is getting ready to compete on a national stage.
“The Canada Games was like my big dream since I was like 12,”
Hayden said.
“I am really, really excited to go there. I’ll finally be able to compete against other para athletes. I’ve never competed against another VI, visually impaired, skier, so I will finally be able to do that, which is going to be awesome.”
The alpine ski events are taking place at Crabbe Mountain near Fredericton, N.B., from Feb. 28 to March 3. Hayden said he loves the fact para skiing is part of the Canada Games.
“I am going to try my very best and hopefully get on the podium,” he said.
COMMUNICATION
Khalifa and Hayden use short words to communicate during a race and have built a strong bond and trust during the past two tears. D’Entremont said Khalifa has been “integral” in Hayden’s development and opportunity to compete at the Canada Games.
“He wouldn’t have been able to ski these races or be a part of any of race, let alone the Canada Games without a guide,” she said during a break between races Feb. 11 in Wentworth. “And having a consistent guide allows them to create a bond.”
There have been a couple of hiccups along the way where they have lost communication but were able to make it safely to the bottom of the hill with Khalifa shouting instructions to him.
“They’re so cool, calm and collected together,” d’Entremont said.
Hayden and Khalifa spent November in Alberta for training organized by the Canadian Para Snow Sports Training Centre. The two stayed with a billet family and trained five days a week.
INSPIRATION
Kenzie Murphy is one of the coaches who has worked with Hayden at the Martock Ski Race Club.
“Hayden is such a great kid. I love to see the smile on his face after his run,” she said. “He’s awesome, he really is.”
Murphy said they haven’t had a lot of requests from other visually impaired people to get into racing.
“Having more guides would be amazing and I think it’s just a lack of awareness for the sport.”
D’Entremont hopes Hayden can be an inspiration for others.
“I hope, with these Games, he reaches some kids (and) it resonates with them,” she said. “I really hope that it reaches other para athletes, so they can experience what he’s experienced.”