Ed Nichols lost his leg in a motorcycle accident at the age of 17. He immigrated from the UK in 1949 after being inspired by a poster of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. An accomplished amputee ice skater, he joined a group of pioneers at Mount Cheeseman’s Canterbury Winter Sports Club and quickly adapted to skiing winning the club championships in the Men’s Downhill.
A keen competitor, Ed went on to represent New Zealand in the Men’s Giant Slalom 2A and Men’s Slalom 2A in Geilo 1980 at the first time a NZ Paralympic Team competed at a Paralympic Winter Games.
He was also a competitive kayaker winning several Christchurch races and open ocean sailor having sailed throughout the Pacific Islands, Chatham Islands, Australia and Stewart Island.
Ed officially received his ‘numbered’ Paralympic pin as part of The Celebration Project in Christchurch in October 2019 on his 96th birthday.
Ed passed away peacefully at Elmswood Retirement Village in 2020, aged 97.
