Milano Cortina 2026: Introduction to Para snowboard

Ready to dive into the thrill of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games?

From 6–15 March 2026, the world’s best athletes will compete for glory in 79 medal events across six sports: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard and wheelchair curling.

Each day, we take a closer look at the six sports featured in the programme and answer all your questions ahead of the Paralympic Games. Today, we’re covering everything you need to know about Para snowboard.

Milano Cortina 2026: All You Need to Know about Para Snowboard 🏂🔍

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What is Para snowboard?  

Para snowboard is fast, fearless, and unforgettable. In Para snowboard, athletes race out of the gate, full speed down the course and their skills are tested on every run.  

Athletes are grouped into sport classes based on the impact of their impairments on their ability to perform the sport.  

Athletes with upper limb impairments race in sport class SB-UL.  

Athletes with lower limb impairments compete in sport classes SB-LL1 or SB-LL2. They can use prosthetics or adaptive equipment during competition.  

There are two Para snowboard disciplines. In banked slalom, athletes race down a winding course, carving tight turns as fast as they can. They have two runs down the course with only their best time counting towards the final ranking. The athlete with the fastest time wins.  

In snowboard cross, athletes race down a specially built course filled with various features, such as banks, rollers and jumps. They start with two timed runs, with their best time determining whether they can advance to the next stage of competition.  

The elimination rounds feature four athletes, racing head-to-head. The top two riders in each heat advance until the big final, where the first to cross the finish line wins. 

Para snowboard at Milano Cortina 2026 

There will be eight medal events at Milano Cortina 2026, all contested at the Cortina Para Snowboard Park.  

Men’s  

Banked slalom SB-LL1 

Banked slalom SB-LL2 

Banked slalom SB-UL 

Snowboard cross SB-LL1 

Snowboard cross SB-LL2 

Snowboard cross SB-UL 

Women’s * 

Banked slalom SB-LL2 

Snowboard cross SB-LL2  

*Eligible sport classes for women’s events: SB-LL1, SB-LL2 

Brief history of Para snowboard 

After much campaigning by Para athletes led by legendary Dutch snowboarder Bibian Mentel-Spee, Para snowboard was included as part of the Para alpine skiing programme at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

A total of 45 athletes from 20 countries competed in the men’s and women’s Para snowboard cross standing events. Mentel-Spee took gold in the women’s event and the USA’s Evan Strong topped the men’s podium. 

Four years later, Para snowboard featured 10 medal events at PyeongChang 2018. Mental-Spee won two gold medals, bringing her gold medal tally to three. The USA was the most successful country, collecting a total of 13 medals.

The Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games featured 75 athletes from 21 countries who competed in eight medal events. China completed the sport’s first medal sweep in the men’s snowboard cross SB-UL.

The sport’s most successful female athlete is the USA’s Brenna Huckaby (three gold medals and one bronze medal) and the most decorated male athlete is Finland’s Matti Suur-Hamari (two gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze medal).

Five facts about Para snowboard

1. The Cortina Para Snowboard Park is set to be remembered as one of the most iconic venues of the Paralympic Winter Games. Located in the Socrepes area in the heart of the Dolomites, the venue will offer a breathtaking backdrop for the red‑hot Paralympic snowboard competition.

2. Para snowboard made its Paralympic debut at Sochi 2014, making it the most recent addition to the Paralympic Winter Games sport programme. Thirteen countries have won Paralympic medals in the sport, with the USA topping the tally with a total of 17 medals, including six gold.

3. Matti Suur-Hamari, the most decorated male Para snowboarder, is the only Paralympic or Olympic athlete from Finland to win a gold medal in the sport. 

Check out what he wants you to know about the sport ahead of Milano Cortina 2026

4. Dutch Para snowboard couple Lisa Bunschoten and Chris Vos have each won two medals at the Paralympic Winter Games. They got married after Beijing 2022, and the couple are now set to compete at Milano Cortina 2026 as mum and dad.

5. Amy Purdy, who appeared in the US television series Dancing with the Stars and danced with a robot during the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony, is a two‑time Paralympic medallist in Para snowboard.

Secure your tickets for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games  

Milano Cortina 2026, which takes place from 6-15 March 2026, is set to be the most beautiful Paralympic Winter Games yet. Ticket prices start at EUR 10 for children under 14, with approximately 89 per cent of the tickets available for EUR 35 or less.

For more information, please visit tickets.milanocortina2026.org