Mel Pemble cried when she first stood on skis as a nine-year old immigrant from the United Kingdom. In a few days, the 17-year-old Saanich resident will be representing Canada as a skier in the 2018 Winter Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, running March 9-18.

Pemble, who left for Pyeongchang Tuesday, will be the youngest of 11 skiers (five women, six men) representing Canada, and only one of two competitors from Vancouver Island.

With less than 48 hours before departure time, much organizing remained, but that did not stop friends and family from throwing Pemble a surprise going-away party at the Thai Lemongrass Restaurant in Cadboro Bay Sunday afternoon.

The 2018 Olympic Games had concluded hours hour, and Pemble was still absorbing the knowledge that she too would be part of the Olympic movement.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really excited, of course,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ut it is also a sense of relief too. Leading up to the [announcement], it was this constant suspense of not knowing.B次元官网网址�

Born with cerebral palsy on her right side following an emergency C-section, Pemble competes as a standing female athlete, who skis with only one pole. (Other categories include sitting and visually impaired sorted by gender).

Pemble will race in all five skiing events: downhill, Giant Slalom, Slalom, Super Combined, and finally, Super G, her favourite event. A long-time fan of the Olympics, Pemble cannot wait to live in the Olympic Village and compete on the same ground as the able-bodied athletes, who just competed in South Korea.

Pemble, for her part, does not see the Paralympics as an after-thought, as they often appear in the media.

B次元官网网址淢ainly, I think itB次元官网网址檚 a lack of education. It is changing though,B次元官网网址� she said. Members of the public are becoming increasingly aware, she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 all about getting the word out that it does exist, and changing that perception,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 bother me, per se.B次元官网网址�

For Pemble, wearing the Maple Leaf will also be an opportunity to give back to her adopted home country.

B次元官网网址淚 learned to ski in Canada,B次元官网网址� said Pemble, who was born in the United Kingdom. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the country that gave me the opportunity to ski in the first place,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be skiing in England,B次元官网网址� she said, laughing. B次元官网网址淭here arenB次元官网网址檛 really any ski hills. And I wasnB次元官网网址檛 really ever an athlete in England, either. It wasnB次元官网网址檛 really into sports. So this is the country that fuelled my passion, that started it.B次元官网网址�

Her mother, Rachel Chubb-Higgins, still remembers when her daughter first stood on skis at the age of 9. B次元官网网址淪he was terrified of skiing when we first got here,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 asked for the nicest ski instructor at Mount Washington, because she was in tears.B次元官网网址� This person ended up being a retired soldier by the name of Dave Brown. B次元官网网址淗e was so nice,B次元官网网址� she said. Not to mention effective. After twenty minutes of the first lesson, Pemble was skiing down the bunny hill. B次元官网网址淎fter two weeks, he said, B次元官网网址榮he is a bit fast. Do you want to try the adaptive race program?B次元官网网址� What is that? We didnB次元官网网址檛 even know that existed, and that was the door opener. Weeks later, she came back with a gold medal.B次元官网网址�

That all happened, by way, not long after Chubb-Higgins had broken her leg on the same run, while skiing.

B次元官网网址淣ot long after she started racing, it was pretty clear that she had potential for it, and he had spotted that,B次元官网网址� said Chubb-Higgins. B次元官网网址淪o every time, she has got success, I phone him, and tell him, B次元官网网址榠tB次元官网网址檚 all your fault.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Chubb-Higgins must have racked a substantial phone bill over the years, as daughter has climbed to the top rung of the athletic career ladder. Now, she is about to experience the drama and pageantry of a global event.

This said, Pemble wonB次元官网网址檛 compete in South Korea without some foreknowledge, she had travelled to a test competition in Pyeongchang last year.

B次元官网网址淚t was amazing,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 had never been to Asia, so it was definitely different. I have not been on hill with that type of snow before, so it was quite a bit of getting used to. But I am glad I went there, to know what it looks like. IB次元官网网址檓 not going in blind this time.B次元官网网址� While competing, Pemble also witnessed the construction for the games.

B次元官网网址淣ow, we will go, and we will be there,B次元官网网址� she said.