Alpine World Cup circuit continues in Slovenia

Just two days after the end of the season’s second World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup in Zagreb, Croatia, skiers will again take to the slopes for the third one to be held in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, on 11 and 12 January.

The competition will feature up to 85 skiers from 22 countries competing in giant slalom events across all men’s and women’s categories.

France’s four-time Sochi 2014 gold medallist Marie Bochet seeks to extend her unbeaten run in the women’s standing as she has won all six World Cup races so far, including four in Kuhtai, Austria, and two in Zagreb.

If she continues showing such great form it will be very hard for her opponents to prevent her from adding two more wins to her haul in Kranjska Gora and, further ahead, at March’s PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.

The men’s equivalent will arguably be the most competitive of all categories, with many leading contenders. Neutral athlete Aleksei Bugaev may start as favourite considering he has already secured three World Cup wins this season.

France’s two-time world champion Arthur Bauchet may have not yet achieved a World Cup win in 2017-18 but is always a force to be reckoned with. Other skiers to look out for are Australia’s Mitchell Gourley, and Switzerland’s Theo Gmur and Thomas Pfyl.

Austria’s Claudia Loesch will be the overwhelming favourite in the women’s sitting. The 29-year-old achieved two wins at each of the two previous World Cups.

The men’s sitting will feature Norway’s Jesper Pedersen, Poland’s Igor Sikorski, France’s Frederic Francois and Croatia’s Dino Sokolovic, all of whom have already sealed World Cup wins this season. Another top contender will be Dutch skier and three-time world champion Jeroen Kampschreur.

Slovakia’s multiple Paralympic and world champion Henrieta Farkasova is hoping to add a fifth 2017-18 World Cup win to her haul in the women’s vision impaired, but Australia’s Melissa Perrine has already beaten her twice this season and is seeking to do it again on Slovenian soil.

Farkasova’s compatriot and four-time Paralympic champion Jakub Krako aims to put an end to his World Cup gold medal-drought in the men’s vision impaired in Kranjska Gora. But he will not have it easy while competing against teammate Miroslav Haraus and Italy’s world champion Giacomo Bertagnolli.

Livestream, highlights and complete live results are available on a dedicated World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup website.

Broadcasters and news agencies interested in the 2018 World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup footage and interviews can contact Alexis Vapaille.