Disabled Alpine Skiing

Disabled alpine skiing also known as Paralympic alpine skiing is a recreational activity that is patterned for ski enthusiasts with disabilities like cerebral palsy, spinal chord injury and visual impairment. This skiing discipline does sound impossible but as a matter of fact it is recognized as one of the sports in the Paralympic Winter Games. It uses special equipments that help participants experience the thrill of taking the slopes by storm and prove that they can excel in this kind of sport despite their disability. They are just like the rest of the daredevils of snowy mountains in their great liking of speed, bringing in a record of more than 100 kilometers per hour.

In disabled alpine skiing, the athletes are categorized into three different classes based from their impairments. The first on is standing classes, next is sitting classes and the last is the visually impaired classes. Looks like this sport is really prepared to welcome all special ski enthusiasts and even created categories where they could fit in. Just like in downhill skiing, this winter sport also has different events:

Downhill – a race on downhill slopes with gates that serve as checkpoints.
Slalom – a technical event that is composed of two runs on different days. But missing the gates or checkpoints means you’re out of the race.
Giant Slalom – a course that is longer than a Slalom but with fewer gates and lasts for two days.
Super Giant Slalom – this is a speed event that is shorter than the Downhill event but much longer than the Giant Slalom event.

Of course, this sport would not be possible if not for ski equipment that are specially designed according to the athlete’s disabilities. A participant who has limited movements can use the sit ski and leg amputees with not prosthesis can use outriggers or poles that are good to maintain balance. For visually impaired skiers there are capable of guiding them using voice signals.

This winter sport for the disabled is currently on a roll in over 35 countries and still growing. So, don’t ever think that skiing is just for people in great shape because Disabled Alpine skiing is here to give you the opportunity to enjoy the slopes.

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