John Heilig Bursary

2023-24 Season Results and Ranking

• National team trials in Canmore, Alberta, November 1-6 2023
• Youth and Junior World Championships Trials, Canmore, Alberta, January 3-8 2024 - 2nd Sprint, 4th SuperSprint, 4th Mass Start
• Youth and Junior World Championships, Oteppä, Estonia, February 23 -March 2, 2024 - 17th 6km mixed relay, 36th 10km individual, 57th 6km sprint, 38th 10km mass start 60, 17th 6km Youth Women relay
• Biathlon Canada National Championships, Hinton, Alberta, March 26 – April 1, 2024 – 7th 6km sprint, 3rd 7.5km pursuit, 3rd 7.5km mass start, 5th 6km mixed relay

Nominated to Biathlon Canada’s National Youth and Junior Team Ranked 4th of Youth Women, National Championships Aggregate points Ranked 13th of Canadian biathletes (2023/24 Athlete Assistance program rankings for athlete carding). 

Before starting my biathlon career, I was an alpine ski racer for four years and a competitive swimmer for five years. Through my club, I volunteered to coach younger athletes for two summers, which motivated me to start working as a lifeguard and swim instructor this upcoming fall. 

I am also about to begin my final year of high school, where I really enjoy my science classes, specifically biology. I am hoping to study Kinesiology post-secondary and include my passion for sport in my future career. On my own time, I love to be outdoors and doing activities such as trail running, road cycling, camping, and travel. 

Earlier this year, I had great leadership experience as I spent 5 days at the Cheakamus Centre in Squamish, volunteering as a camp counsellor for their Outdoor Education Program.

My name is Dyllon Crawford, and I am an 18-year-old ski jumper from Canada. Last season, I competed in several notable competitions. At the US Nationals in Lake Placid, NY, in October 2023, I achieved a 15thplace finish. Later, at the RMD Winter Start in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, on December 10, 2023, I secured a 20th placement. 

Lastly, My best performance was at the Western Regionals in Park City, Utah, in March 2024, where I ended the season with a 5th place finish. Throughout the season, I had the privilege of training in some of the world's best ski jumping locations, including Szczyrk and Zakopane in Poland, Park City UT, Lake Placid NY, Steamboat Springs CO, as well as Plancia and Villach in Slovenia and Austria. 

These experiences, training at world-class facilities, experiencing new cultures, and meeting new friends, have deepened my love for ski jumping. Currently, I am ranked as the 4th best male ski jumper in Canada and am spending the summer training in Oberstdorf, Germany, and Slovenia with the Provincial Team. 

Working alongside the members and coaches of Canada's National Ski Jumping Team has significantly improved my technique and prepared me for the new training opportunities and competitions I will get when I move to Trondheim in Norway. I am committed to giving back to the sport. 

I volunteer as a ski jumping coach for the younger kids in the Sea to Sky Nordic Club whenever I return to Whistler. Additionally, I have contributed to the success of major events by volunteering at the Continental Cup and World Juniors ski jumping competitions held in Whistler. 

Outside of ski jumping, to maintain a balance of an active and social lifestyle some of my interests include, going to the gym, hiking, hanging out with friends, skiing, running, playing hockey, and disk golfing. With many big opportunities ahead of me I am excited for what the future holds and am committed to continuing my ski jumping journey.

I’m Sofia Aragon, a ski jumper from Squamish, B.C., and a Canadian Ski Jumping Team member. I’ve been jumping since I was 10. John was my first coach, and I’m forever grateful for the time and energy he put into helping young athletes like me fall in love with the sport and motivating us to go places with it.

I received the John Heilig Bursary in 2023, which helped me fund my season. I had been living in Park City, Utah, in the 2022/23 season and joined the Canadian Provincial Ski Jumping Team. In the summer of 2023, we traveled to Europe (Poland, Slovenia, and Austria) twice and went to Park City multiple times as well. I think this season will forever be a big part of my career. I may not have been jumping 100m every jump, but I was making big improvements and jumped the 90m for the first time.

This past season (2024/25), I podiumed at events like the Winter Start and Western Regionals. In the upcoming summer and winter seasons, I am hoping to start competing in a few ICOCs and World Juniors. My end goal is, and has been for as long as I can remember, to compete in the Olympics.

When I’m not jumping, I like coaching younger jumpers with the Sea to Sky Nordics, surfing, biking, hiking, or doing anything outside that scares me a little — in a good way.

Here are some of my best results since getting the John Heilig Bursary:

• Park City, Utah, USA – Hecket Memorial 60m comp – 5th – 01/06/2023
• Park City, Utah, USA – Western Regionals 60m comp – 4th – 03/04/2023
• Anchorage, Alaska, USA – Solstice 65m comp – 4th – 06/23/2023
• Park City, USA – Springer Tournee 90m comp – 2nd – 07/27/2023
• Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA – Winter Start 100m comp Day 1 – 7th – 12/09/2023
• Park City, Utah, USA – Western Regionals 90m comp – 2nd – 03/09/2024
• Park City, Utah, USA – Western Regionals 60m comp – 3rd – 03/09/2024
• Anchorage, Alaska, USA – Solstice Competition – 2nd – 06/22/2024
• Lake Placid, NY, USA – USA Nationals – 13th – 10/11/2024
• Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA – Winter Start 100m – 3rd – 12/08/2024
• Lake Placid, NY, USA – US Cup 90m – 6th – 01/04/2025
• Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA – Western Regionals 90m – 3rd – 03/08/2025

Nordic sports have been a part of my life from a young age. I started skiing with the Sea to Sky Nordics in the Bunny Rabbits program and eventually discovered a love for biathlon through the Biathlon Bears. What began as a childhood activity soon turned into a big part of my life, as I continued in the sport through elementary and high school. 

As my skills and passion grew, I began racing for Sea to Sky Nordics and Team BC, competing in races across the country. Highlights of my biathlon career include winning the 2022 Biathlon BC Aggregate Award for most overall points in my category, and earning a bronze medal in the mass start at the 2023 Canadian Biathlon Nationals in Valcartier, Quebec, among a field of 40 athletes.

In 2023, I set my sights on qualifying for the 2024 Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, South Korea. During this time, the John Heilig Bursary made a meaningful difference in my life by helping cover the financial demands associated with training and competing at a high level. I’m incredibly grateful for the support, which allowed me to stay focused on my athletic goals.

Although I missed qualifying—placing 5th in the 10km Pursuit at the YOG Trials in Canmore—I ended the season on a high note by receiving the ‘Top Gun Award’ at the 2024 Canadian Biathlon Nationals for the highest shooting accuracy in the youth category.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to begin my studies at the University of British Columbia and hope to continue competing as a member of the UBC Nordic Skiing team.