Athletes nominated to first US Paralympics Snowboard Team

National champions announced as nominees ahead of 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi 11 May 2013
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Evan Strong snowboarding

USA's Evan Strong won the Snowboard Cross Sochi Paralympic Test Event

ⒸIPC

"As we look toward the start of the Paralympic Winter Games in 10 months, the nomination of these athletes to the inaugural U.S. Paralympics Snowboard National Team marks a significant step for the program and the sport."

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has announced that U.S. Paralympics snowboard national champions Evan Strong, Heidi Jo Duce and nine other athletes are nominated for the 2013-14 U.S. Paralympics Snowboard National Team, which is the first-ever national team in the sport.

In May 2012, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced that snowboard cross will be included in the alpine skiing program at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, 7-16 March, in Russia. The Paralympic competition is open to men and women with lower limb impairments.

"As we look toward the start of the Paralympic Winter Games in 10 months, the nomination of these athletes to the inaugural U.S. Paralympics Snowboard National Team marks a significant step for the program and the sport," said Kevin Jardine, USOC high performance director for Paralympic alpine skiing and snowboarding.

"A year ago, there was very little opportunity for Paralympic snowboarders, and now there is chance for a Paralympic gold medal. Our national team athletes are among the world's best and are up to the challenge of medaling in Sochi."

Joining Strong and Duce are nominees Christina Albert, Tyler Burdick, Keith Gabel, Lucas Grossi, Amy Purdy, Nicole Roundy and Mike Shea, all who have lower limb impairments, and Joseph Chandler and Marc Dervaes, who have upper limb impairments.

"There are no words to describe what it feels like to be nominated for the first-ever US Paralympics Snowboard National Team," said Duce, who won two bronze medals on the 2012-13 IPC Alpine Skiing Snowboard World Cup circuit before taking the inaugural national crown.

"I am stoked to be a part of history with so many great athletes. While we will always be known as trailblazers, I hope that we are remembered not just for being a part of the national team but for inspiring other amputees to get involved in snowboarding."

National team nominations will be confirmed by 1 July, 2013. Athletes nominated to the US Paralympics Snowboard National Team will participate in a training camp next week at the US Olympic Training Centre in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

US Paralympics Snowboard National A Team nominees

• Marc Dervaes, SB-UL, West Chester, Pennsylvania.

• Heidi Jo Duce, SB-LL, Ouray, Colorado.

• Keith Gable, SB-LL, Ogden, Utah

• Amy Purdy, SB-LL, Las Vegas, Nevada.

• Mike Shea, SB-LL, Castaic, California.

• Evan Strong, SB-LL, Nevada City, California.

US Paralympics Snowboard National B Team nominees

• Christina Albert, SB-LL, Denver, Colorado.

• Tyler Burdick, SB-LL, Salt Lake City, Utah

• Joseph Chandler, SB-UL, Salt Lake City, Utah

• Lucas Grossi, SB-LL, Billings, Montana.

• Nicole Roundy, SB-LL, Bountiful, Utah

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