Tyler Turner Goes for Gold Again After Skydiving Accident

When Tyler Turner's heart rate is lower jumping out of airplanes than driving on highways, you know he's built different.

The Canadian Para snowboarder heads into Sunday's competition at Milano-Cortina as the reigning champion and gold medal favorite. But what makes Turner truly dangerous isn't just his talent—it's that he's genuinely having the time of his life.

"My friends call me the 'fun hog,'" Turner told CBC Sports. "If I'm out having fun, then I'm dangerous."

The 37-year-old from Campbell River, B.C., lost both legs below the knee in a 2017 skydiving accident. In those first dark days at the hospital, he couldn't imagine his future as a double amputee.

Then he started thinking about the sports he loved. Skydiving. Snowboarding. Surfing. Those dreams became his motivation through the hardest days of rehab.

Four years ago at his first Paralympic Games in Beijing, Turner made history as Canada's first-ever gold medalist in snowboard cross. Since then, he's been unstoppable: three world titles, three straight World Cup championships, and recognition as 2025's top male winter Para athlete.

But Turner isn't content just winning races. In 2020, he became the first double amputee to fly a wingsuit. He's competed in adaptive surfing world championships in Hawaii. Last year, he even finished as runner-up on The Amazing Race Canada with his now-wife Kayleen, despite challenges that weren't designed for people with prosthetics.

"I love finding out what's possible and where the line is," Turner said. "If I hit that line, I try and figure out if there's a way we can move it a little bit."

Why This Inspires

Turner's mission goes beyond medals. Every boundary he pushes redefines what people believe is possible—not just for amputees, but for all humans. His work as a parachuting instructor in the off-season shows others that losing your legs doesn't mean losing your wings.

The Canadian team chose Turner as co-captain for Milano-Cortina, recognizing that his impact extends far beyond his own performance. He finds peace in extreme sports, calling them his meditation.

When Turner lines up for Sunday's snowboard cross final, the pressure won't rattle him. He'll be exactly where he feels most at ease: pushing limits, having fun, and showing the world what's possible.