The USA's Evan Strong is the No. 1-ranked men's snowboarder in the world. © • Getty Images

The 2015 IPC Para-Snowboard World Championships was the first time a para-snowboard World Championships has been held under the governance of IPC Alpine Skiing.

Around 80 athletes from 20 countries travelled to La Molina, Spain, for the biggest gathering of riders since para-snowboard made its debut at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

The competition featured athletes in two impairment groups who competed separately in both disciplines - lower-limb and upper-limb.

The Spanish resort of La Molina has previously hosted IPCAS Snowboard World Cups as well as the able-bodied snowboard World Championships in 2011 and the 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships.

The Pyrenees mountain location was the site of Span's first ever ski-lift in 1943 and since that time the slopes have become a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders alike.

 

History

The 2015 IPC Para-Snowboard World Championships in La Molina, Spain, was the first World Championships under the governance of IPC Alpine Skiing.

2012 World Snowboard Federation Para-Snowboard Cross World Championships

Around 40 snowboarders from 10 countries gathered in Orcieres 1850, France, to battle it out for the title of para-snowboard cross world champion.

Canada's Tyler Mosher held the lead after the first day of competition followed by New Zealander Carl Murphy and American Evan Strong respectively. Day two proved to be successful for the American team with Strong posting the fastest runs of the day giving him the lead in the overall results and thus crowing him as world champion. Following closely behind Strong was Murphy and the USA's Mike Shea.

The Netherlands' Bibian Mentel-Spee left the women's competition behind her by posting the fastest times on both days. Following behind Mentel-Spee was American Amy Purdy and Italy's Sara Dorigatti from the upper-limb impairment classification.

2011 World Snowboard Federation Para-Snowboard Cross World Championships

The 2011 World Snowboard Federation Para-Snowboard Cross World Championships were held at Lake Wanaka, New Zealand.

2009 World Snowboard Federation Adaptive Snowboard World Championships

Tyler Mosher and Bibian Mental-Spee triumphed over riders from five countries to take their latest World Championships titles.

At the competition in Cardrona, New Zealand, Carl Murphy and Canada's Ian Lockey both made the podium.

American Nicole Roundy chased Mentel-Spee to the line for silver alongside Australian Jodie Thring.

2008 World Snowboard Federation Adaptive Snowboard World Championships

The first ever para-snowboard World Championships were held in Copper Mountain, USA.

The competition introduced faces who would go on to be the world's premier riders including Carl Murphy, Tyler Mosher and Bibian Mentel-Spee as well as a handful of rider from the United States.

In the competition, riders with upper limb impairments were included and Rob Nelson, a rider from the US with arm paralysis, finished the day with the fastest time and took home the title of Adaptive Snowboard World Champion. His teammates Chris Brodbeck and Keith Deutsch took home the silver and bronze.

On the women’s side, Bibian Mentel-Spee was crowned Adaptive World Champion. Nicole Roundy and Amy Purdy took home the silver and bronze.

 

2015 IPC Para-Snowboard World Championships Medal Table

Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
Netherlands	4	0	1	5
USA	2	4	3	9
Italy	1	1	1	3
France	1	1	0	2
Finland	1	0	1	2