Dan Weiland knows what it takes to succeed at the elite level, which is why he has given the responsibility of helping Australia achieve its best ever results in Nordic Skiing at the Paralympic Winter Games.

Before beginning his coaching career at the elite level in 1998, Dan was an accomplished soccer player and track and field athlete, but achieved most of his success competing as a Cross Country skier.

While at high school, he become the USA’s Junior National Cross Country Skiing Champion in 1991, and achieved All-American honours in the sport in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

Further sporting success followed during a career as an off-road triathlete and professional adventure racer, but it is coaching where his major passion now lies.

Apart from his role as Nordic Skiing coach for the Vail Ski and Snowboard Club in Colorado, Dan devotes much of his time to mentoring Australian Paralympic Nordic Skiers James Millar and Dominic Monypenny.

Both men have qualified for the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver, and are each aiming to become the first Australian to earn a top five finish in Nordic Skiing at the Games.

With Dan overseeing their Games preparations, both Australian athletes have enjoyed a faultless build-up during the current IPC World Cup season and will arrive in Vancouver ready to do their country proud.