In the first of our series of features focused on the NZ Paralympic Team support staff at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, we put the spotlight on Assistant Coach Sam Lynch.
The role of Sam Lynch at Milano Cortina 2026 can best be described as the “facilitator of dreams.”
While Sam fully acknowledges both Paralympian #158 Adam Hall MNZM and Paralympian #188 Corey Peters MNZM put in the true mahi, the Dunedin-raised coach is happy to act as a vital support aid.
“I just want to help the boys and facilitate them on their journey to make sure they perform at their absolute best at Milano Cortina 2026,” he says.
Falling in love with the “freedom” of skiing since first hitting the slopes as a four-year-old child, Sam was later motivated to become a ski instructor as a path into the snow sports industry. After leaving school he studied a ski instructor course at Otago Polytechnic and for several years bounced between Japan, North America and Europe building his experience as a ski instructor, guide and later coach.
In more recent times, Sam has more specifically focused on coaching ski-racing and following a call from Jane Stevens, the Snowsports NZ Para High Performance Programme and Pathway Manager and Chef de Mission of the NZ Paralympic Team for Milano Cortina 2026, he has pivoted to working with New Zealand’s leading Para alpine skiers.
Guiding Adam to podium finishes on the World Cup circuit, he has taken enormous pride in playing a small part in the success of the five-time Paralympic medallist. But what is his motivation to work in Para alpine skiing?
“It is the equipment,” he says. “You can adjust and play with the equipment more with Para alpine skiers, I really enjoy that side of it. “To get to work with incredible Para athletes and try and help them improve is cool.”
Sam will play multiple roles as the Assistant Coach with the NZ Paralympic Team. From picking up the skis and packing the van at the start of the day, Sam will assist the Para athletes during training runs, help the Para athletes in the gym and work closely with NZ Paralympic Team Head Coach Dan Bogue and NZ Paralympic Team Equipment and Wax Technician, Hamish Morison.
However, a key part of his role will be providing course reports to aid Adam and Corey in their quest for success in Milano Cortina 2026.
“I’ll be on the hill checking conditions and how the other Para athletes are skiing,” he adds. “I’ll look at certain gates or series of gates where people are struggling or making up time. I’ll then advise Adam or Corey whether they should make certain tactical adjustments. I’ll feed maybe two or three course reports back to the boys.”
Sam admits he is “very excited” to be attending his first Paralympic Winter Games, where he hopes to instill his philosophy of “not overcomplicating communication” – which he believes will allow the Paralympians to flourish.
“Corey and Adam are so experienced, they’ve both being performing at a world-class standard for a long time, so much of my role is to give them options and challenge what they are currently doing,” he explains.
“I love being able to facilitate people to deliver to the best of their ability. For me to be able to do that in skiing, a sport that I love, is pretty cool.”
