Natalie Wilkie before she left for Korea to attend the Paralympic Games. (File photo)

Natalie Wilkie before she left for Korea to attend the Paralympic Games. (File photo)

Update: Party planned to watch Paralympian Natalie Wilkie’s ski race

Salmon Arm skier heads into third competition after a bronze medal win

Update: doors will now open at 5:30 for the viewing party at the Salmon Arm Recreation Centre Auditorium. Replays of Natalie Wilkie’s two previous Paralympic races, as well as a live viewing of Brian McKeever’s Men’s 10km Classic, Visually Impaired event will be shown before Wilkie’s race goes live at 7:45 p.m..

The public is invited to a viewing party to watch Salmon Arm Paralympian Natalie Wilkie ski in the 7.5 km Classic Women’s Standing cross-country ski race.

It will be streamed live this Friday, March 16 at the SASCU Recreation Centre auditorium. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with Wilkie’s final race scheduled for 7:45 p.m.

In her first race of the Paralympics, Wilkie had a strong race in the Para-Nordic Women’s 15km Freestyle – Standing. She finished sixth, and only 1:04 off the podium time. Teammate Emily Young from North Vancouver came in just ahead to finish in fifth.

In her second competition, the Women’s 1.5km Sprint Classic, Standing, Wilkie came in just 0.1 seconds off a silver medal finish with a time of 5:14.3, securing a bronze as her first Paralympic medal.

At Friday’s viewing party, red and white clothing, and “Go Natalie Go” signs are encouraged.

Donations to the food bank will be happily accepted.

Residents can continue to send good wishes to Natalie here: bestwishesnatalie@gmail.com

To volunteer to help, or for more information, contact Jennifer Henrie by email at mjhenrie@gmail.com.

Salmon Arm Observer