Bochet and Bauchet to star on home snow

France’s Marie Bochet can extend her flawless form on home snow, as the fifth and penultimate World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup is expected to get underway on Wednesday (24 January) in Tignes.

Competition was scheduled to begin on Tuesday (23 January) but was cancelled due to weather conditions. The loaded field features 92 athletes from 20 countries taking on speed events in downhill and super-G until Friday (26 January).

As the reigning world champion in both women’s standing events, Bochet’s only World Cup loss this season was in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, where she finished second in the giant slalom. But other than that, the multi-world and Paralympic champion can top off her season with more victories before the World Cup Finals next month in Kimberley, Canada, and ultimately the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in March.

Her compatriot Arthur Bauchet will also try to make his home World Cup memorable. The 17-year-old teenage sensation already owns six World Cup podium finishes in the men’s standing. But he targets his first victory since November’s Europa Cup in Landgraaf, Netherlands. Switzerland’s Theo Gmur however is carrying a winning momentum from his home slopes in Veysonnaz last week.

In the women’s sitting, reigning world and Paralympic downhill champion Anna Schaffelhuber will try to seal her fifth World Cup win – and first since December in Kuhtai, Austria. Her main rival Claudia Loesch however leads the overall rankings with six victories so far. The Austrian would especially hope to show why she currently owns the super-G world title from Tarvisio, Italy.

Norway’s Jesper Pedersen highlights the men’s equivalent, as he aims to continue his breakthrough season. Then 18-year-old could extend his lead in the World Cup rankings. Last time out, he shared the giant slalom gold in Veysonnaz. Another 18-year-old in the Netherlands’ Jeroen Kampschreur is hungry for his first World Cup victory this season. He is coming off two bronze medals from last week. But the races in Tignes might not play to his strengths, as the three-time world champion lacked Worlds medals in both speed events.

Canada’s Mac Marcoux, with guide Jack Leitch, will get to prove why he holds the downhill and super-G world titles in the men’s vision impaired. They will try to upgrade their two runner-up finishes from the Veysonnaz World Cup. But Italy’s Giacomo Bertagnolli, guided by Fabrizio Casal, will try to keep the momentum going after a slalom win from last week, which was his second of the season.

Meanwhile, Slovakia’s Henrieta Farkasova and guide Natalia Subrtova have been untouchable in the women’s vision impaired, and can add onto the eight World Cup golds from this season.

Live streaming, 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 Sascha Beck.