Para alpine skiing is practised worldwide and features five disciplines: downhill, slalom, giant slalom, super-G and super combined. Athletes combine speed and agility while racing down slopes at speeds of around 100km/h.
The sport was developed following the end of the Second World War, when injured ex-servicemen returned to the sport they loved. In 1948, the first Para alpine skiing courses were offered.
Two disciplines, slalom and giant slalom were introduced at the first Paralympic Winter Games in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, in 1976. Downhill was added to the Paralympic programme in 1984 in Innsbruck, Austria, and super-G was added in 1994 at Lillehammer, Norway. Sit-skiing was introduced as a medal event at the Nagano 1998 Games.
Paralympic competition accommodates male and female athletes with a physical and vision impairment. Athletes compete in three categories based on their functional ability and a times factoring system allows athletes with different impairments to compete against each other.
There are five traditional alpine skiing events on the Paralympic Program:
– Downhill
Skiers are timed as they race down a long, steep course passing through a relatively few number of gates. The penalty for missing a gate is disqualification. Athletes compete one run down and the shortest time wins.
– Slalom
Athletes compete two runs on the same day on different courses and their times are added together to determine the order of finish. The course is shorter than other alpine skiing events with a high number of gates. The penalty for missing a gate is disqualification.
– Giant slalom
Athletes compete two runs on the same day on different courses and their times are added together to determine the order of finish. The course is longer, there are fewer turns, and the turns are wider and smoother than the slalom. The number of gates is determined by the vertical drop and the penalty for missing a gate is disqualification.
– Super-G
Athletes compete one run and the shorter time wins. The course is shorter than downhill but longer than giant slalom and slalom. The number of gates is determined by the vertical drop.
– Super combined
This event combines two disciplines, either one downhill, and one slalom run, or a super-G and a slalom run. The lowest total time wins.
Paralympic Alpine Skiing conforms to some of the parameters that have been laid down by the International Skiing Federation in terms of the difference in altitude and the number of gates along the course.
Skis
The skis used in alpine skiing events are long and narrow.
Sit-skis
Some athletes with a physical impairment compete from a sitting position using a sit-ski, also called a mono-ski.
Poles or outriggers
Skiers in alpine skiing events use poles for propulsion and balance.
Hypertonia | Impaired Muscle Power |
Ataxia | Leg Length Difference |
Athetosis | Impaired Passive Range of Movement |
Limb Deficiency | Visual Impairment |
Athletes are classified into classes depending on their functional ability. Results are factored to take each athletes’ degree of impairment into account when calculating a time.
LW1 – LW2 | Athletes with a leg impairment |
LW5 – LW8 | Athletes with an arm impairment |
LW9 | Athletes with a combined arm and leg impairment |
LW10 – LW12 | Athletes who compete in sit skiing |
B1 – B3 | Athletes with a vision impairment |
This list includes active athletes who have been classified at national and/or international level. Click here to access the Masterlist.
Ireland currently does not have a Para Alpine Skiing National Governing Body member of Paralympics Ireland
Governing Body | |
International | World Para Alpine Skiing) |
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