Alpine World Cup in Abtenau Finishes

High-level performances marked the final days of competition at the 2010 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Alpine Skiing World Cupin Abtenau, Austria. The event was closed with a Slalom race on 15 January.

The final day of the World Cup on 15 January saw many athletes repeating their success from previous days, including Viviane Forest (B2) from Canada, who with guide Lindsay Debou took first in the Women’s Slalom Visually Impaired category. Coming in second and third were Switzerland’s Nadja Baumgartner with guide Chiarina Sawyer-Hirschi and Spain’s Anna Cohi (B3) with guide Raquel Garcia.

In the Women’s Slalom Standing category, top finisher Marie Bochet took first, followed by Lauren Woolstencroft and Petra Smarzova. In the Women’s Slalom Sitting category, Austria’s Claudia Loesch (LW11) took first, followed by Germany’s Anna Schaffelhuber and USA’s Laurie Stephens (LW12-1).

Athletes in the men’s competitions also returned to their high finishes, including Canada’s Chris Williamson (B3) with guide Nick Brush in the Men’s Slalom Visually Impaired category. Coming in second and third were Spain’s Jon Santacana (B2) with guide Miguel Galindo and Slovakia’s Jakub Krako with guide Juraj Medera.

Top finisher Adam Hall took first in the Men’s Slalom Standing category with his time of 1:26.84. Hall was followed by Russia’s Alexandr Alyabyev (LW6/8-2) and Germany’s Gerd Schoenfelder (LW5/7-2). In the Men’s Slalom Sitting category, Austria’s Juergen Egle (LW11) and Philipp Bonadimann took first and second respectively. Canada’s Josh Dueck came in third.

The 2010 IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup began on 8 January in Rinn, Austria, before moving to Abentau on 11 January. More than 140 athletes from 17 countries competed at the World Cup in Rinn and Abentau.