Paralympian Mark Arendz honoured with ski trail

The Canada Games ski trail in Brookvale, P.E.I., is being re-named after the island's Paralympian Mark Arendz.

Arendz won two medals at the Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Now, his former ski club has put up a sign boasting that's where he trained.

It's kind of the birthplace of my passion for cross country or biathlon, Arendz said.

He says he wouldn't be where he is now without the Brookvale Nordic Ski Centre.

He hopes thenew trail name and sign will encourage Islanders to give biathlon and cross country skiing a try.

Hopefully it brings some awareness to the Nordic centre here and for people to know that it exists, to get out and have some fun in the winter.

Grade 12 student Lucas Boudreau says Mark Arendz inspired him to take up biathlon.

He's competing in the Canada Winter Games in 2015 and hopes to someday make it to the Olympics, too.

Mark's been a huge role model to me. He's from P.E.I., hes gone all the way to the top in the Olympics and World Cup, he said.

After Christmas, Arendz will head back to Alberta to continue training for the International Paralympic Committee World Championships.

Next up are World Cup events in Japan and Norway.