Alpine skiing experts gather to talk classification

“The work and research will never stop.”

IPC Alpine Skiing gathered together experts from the world of para-alpine skiing and academia in Barcelona, Spain, recently (13-15 June) to discuss the sport’s existing specific classification system.

A number of athletes, coaches, classifiers, academics and representatives of IPC Alpine Skiing from around the world, including Canada, Great Britain, Germany, USA, Spain, Australia, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands, met in Barcelona guided by the question ‘which parameters of ski performance are crucial for success, and cannot be overcome by training and experience in case of an impairment.’

Like all other Paralympic sports, alpine skiing currently has a sport specific classification in place. For alpine skiing this consists of nine sport classes for standing athletes, five for sitting athletes and three for athletes with a visual impairment.

Sylvana Mestre, Chair of the IPC Alpine Skiing Sport Technical Committee said “This was a highly important and crucial meeting and having on board coaches and athletes representing all classifications has been a key component.

“We are really conscious that youngsters are coming into the sport and it is important to have clear, transparent and honest system that coaches and athletes can believe in long into the future.

“The work and research will never stop.”

Further consultation with National Paralympic Committees and National Federations will now take place over the coming months.