February Para-Sport of the Month: Para Skiing

Para-skiing includes two sports: para-alpine skiing and para-nordic skiing.

Para-alpine skiing has six different disciplines: downhill, Super-G, slalom, giant slalom, super combined, and team events. Athletes often have a physical impairment such as spinal injury, cerebral palsy, amputation, or blindness/vision impairment. Para-alpine skiing originated after the Second World War, and is currently practiced in more than 40 countries. Canada has won medals in para-alpine skiing at every Paralympic Winter Games since 1976.

Para-nordic skiing races are held in distances from one to 20 kilometres along with relays in both sports. Nordic skiing debuted in 1976 at the first ever Winter Paralympic Games held in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Canada's Brian McKeever has earned 17 Paralympic medals in four Games, including 13 gold, and has the most victories ever by a Canadian winter Paralympian.

Classes:

Alpine para skiers compete in different sport classes depending on the activity limitation that their impairment causes. Standing ski classes are LW2-LW9. LW2 to LW4 are for skiers with leg impairments. LW5 to LW8 are for skiers with arm impairments. LW9 is for skiers with a combination of arm and leg impairments. Sit-skiing classes are LW10 to LW12. All sit-skiers have impairments affecting their legs. Skiers with visual impairments are classified B1 to B3.

Nordic para skiers compete in cross-country and biathlon. They use the same classifications as para-alpine skiing.