“Challenging” courses will greet skiers at Panorama 2015

Markus Walser, Chairperson of the IPC Alpine Skiing Sport Technical Committee, conducted a site visit for the alpine skiing World Championships. 27 Dec 2014
Imagen
Two skiers behind each other on the slope

Marc Marcoux and his guide Robin Femy won bronze in the Men's Downhill visually impaired category at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

Ⓒwww.photo-hartmann.de
By IPC

“Athletes and teams relish the opportunity to ski courses like this and it is very fitting for a competition of this level that we can offer them the chance to do so.”

The latest site visit to the host resort of the 2015 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships, taking place from 28 February – 10 March in Panorama, Canada, has shown that plans for the successful delivery of the competition are coming together well.

Markus Walser, Chairperson of the IPC Alpine Skiing Sport Technical Committee (STC), carried out the site visit in mid-December to review several areas such as accommodation, transport, course layout and protocol elements.

Walser conducted a thorough hill inspection and reported that the slope is challenging, but said that he “expects nothing less from this fantastic setting."

He continued: “Athletes and teams relish the opportunity to ski courses like this and it is very fitting for a competition of this level that we can offer them the chance to do so.”

In addition to inspecting the course, the start elevation for all disciplines were determined, taking into account safety and terrain, and the snowmaking facilities and weather contingency plans.

Walser also discussed other elements of Panorama 2015 with the organisers, Alpine Canada, the Panorama resort and representatives from the closest town of Invermere, where those involved in the Championships will stay.

“The accommodation, transport, ski lifts, and slopes are fully accessible so we expect that athletes and team will be able to get around very easily and will be made comfortable from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave,” Walser said.

“Everything is progressing well and I am confident that the organisers will deliver an excellent Championships.”

Panorama 2015 will gather 130 athletes from 30 countries and will be the biggest gathering of international skiers since the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

A host of Paralympic and world champions are expected to compete and are currently making their way around the IPC Alpine Skiing World, NorAm and Europa Cup circuit as part of their preparations.

The next World Cup takes place in La Molina, Spain, from 8-11 January and features slalom and giant slalom events.

Media accreditation for Panorama 2015 is open including details about accommodation and the Team Leaders' Manual is also available.