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Introduction


Introduction to Alpine Skiing

Courtesy of Disabled Sports USA & Tyler Stableford
In alpine skiing male and female athletes must combine both speed and agility as they race down the slopes. Skiers may reach speeds up to 100 miles per hour. Alpine skiing features seven different disciplines, six of which are included in the Paralympic games. The seven disciplines include: downhill, slalom, giant slalom, super-G, super combined, team events and snowboard. The only discipline not included in the Paralympic Games is the team events. Outside of snowboarding, the other five Paralympic events can be further divided into speed and technical events. Slalom and giant slalom are both technical events while super G and downhill are speed events. The super combined is both a speed and technical event.  Both slalom and giant slalom were present at the very first winter games and the most recent addition is snowboarding which made its debut in the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

Benefits of the Sport

Alpine skiing provides a great outlet for physical activity during the winter months. It requires proper training, speed, and agility. Precision movements in combination with body control excel in this sport, the mastery of which is very evident at the Paralympic level.  It is a great sport for both thrill seekers and competitors alike.  Particularly for individuals who grew up on the slopes, Alpine skiing provides a way for individuals to continue to enjoy the slopes even after injury.

Classification

Alpine skiing in the Paralympics hosts competition for male and female athletes with a physical disability.  The specific types of physical disabilities include spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, amputation, les autres conditions, and visual impairment/blindness.  Athletes use adaptive equipment to participate in the sport such as sit skis, single skis, and prosthetic aids.  Athletes with a visual impairment or blindness are guided through the course by sighted guides and signals.

Equipment

Athletes compete in Alpine skiing using skis and poles.  If an athlete is unable to stand they compete in a sit ski. A sit ski is designed to be very aerodynamic and has built in shock absorbers. Individuals who use a sit ski may also use outriggers which are similar to ski poles but they have a larger base of support at the bottom.  Single leg skiers may also choose to use outriggers over traditional ski poles. Outriggers assist skiers with balance, turns, and speed control.  Other equipment skiers may use includes a single ski and orthopedic aids such as prosthetics.

 


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