John Heilig Bursary

nordic skier after a jump, in the air, with cloudy mountains in the background

The John Heilig Bursary is awarded annually to two deserving Nordic athletes. It has been put in place in 2023 by Whistler Sport Legacies to honour the late John Heilig’s passion and his commitment to winter sports, and to continue his efforts in developing the next generation of Olympians/Paralympians.

Each year, the two $2,500 bursaries are to assist athletes on their journey towards becoming high-performance athletes to represent Canada.

How To Apply

Interested athletes can apply by filling out an application form. After completing it, please email the form along with any supporting documents to the bursary committee. The 2024 application process is open from May 1st to August 31st, 2024. The recipient will be chosen on October 1st, 2024.

man holding microphone

John Heilig

NORDIC SPORT ADVOCATE & VISIONARY

The late John Heilig was one of the most passionate people in the Sea to Sky region for all Nordic sports, especially when it came to the disciplines of Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined. John was known all over the world for his knowledge and expertise in these two disciplines and was the go-to person when major international events were being planned. He passed away unexpectedly in spring 2021, while on assignment to prepare Beijing's Nordic venues for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
 
John was a key member of the team during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, after the Games he became the Sport Manager at Whistler Olympic Park. During his time with Whistler Sport Legacies John focused on introducing new participants to the Nordic sports and advocating for all Nordic disciplines. He loved being on the snow, always passing on his knowledge whether teaching fundamentals to beginners or providing technical advice to seasoned athletes, or when working on sport events and program delivery.

2024 Recipients

We are pleased to congratulate the recipients of the inaugural John Heilig Bursary for 2024. On behalf of Whistler Sport Legacies and our Board of Directors, it is with great enthusiasm that we extend heartfelt congratulations to both Sofia Aragon and Jojo Ng on their outstanding achievements!

Mia Rogers

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.

Dyllon Crawford

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.

2023 Recipients

We are pleased to congratulate the recipients of the inaugural John Heilig Bursary for 2023. On behalf of Whistler Sport Legacies and our Board of Directors, it is with great enthusiasm that we extend heartfelt congratulations to both Sofia Aragon and Jojo Ng on their outstanding achievements!

skier at start of jump

Sofia Aragon

Portrait of athlete

Jojo Ng