First Day of World Cup in Sestriere Ends

The first day of the 2010 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Alpine Skiing World Cup has finished in Sestriere, Italy, with 106 athletes from 19 different countries participating in the big event.

In the Women’s Downhill Visually Impaired category, Slovakia’s Henrieta Farkosova (B3) with guide Natalia Subrtova finished first with a result of 1:21.48. Coming in second and third were Czech Republic’s Anna Kuliskova (B2) with guide Michaela Hubacova, and Canada’s Viviane Forest with guide Lindsay Debou.

For the Women’s Downhill Sitting category, Austria’s Claudia Loesch (LW11) took first, followed by USA’s Laurie Stephens (LW12-1) and Alana Nichols (LW11). In the Women’s Downhill Standing category, Canada’s well-known athlete Lauren Woolstencroft (LW3-1) took first with a result of 1:20.06, followed by compatriot Karolina Wisniewska (LW3-2) and Italy’s Melania Corradini (LW6/8-1).

The Men’s Downhill Visually Impaired category saw Canada’s Chris Williamson (B3) take first with guide Nick Brush. Williamson was followed by Spain’s Jon Santacana (B2) with guide Miguel Galindo and Slovakia’s Miroslav Haraus with guide Martin Makovnik respectively.

Great Britain’s Sean Rose (LW11) took first in the Men’s Downhill Sitting category with a result of 1:13.51, followed by Japan’s Akira Kano and Austria’s Reinhold Sampl. In the Men’s Downhill Standing category, Germany’s Gerd Schoenfelder (LW5/7-2) took first with his result of 1:14.33. Schoenfelder was followed by Switzerland’s Michael Bruegger (LW4) and France’s Vincent Gauthier-Manuel (LW6/8-2).

In the Downhill event, skiers are timed as they race down a long, steep course that may include turns and jumps. They must pass through a relatively few number of gates that are used as checkpoints. The penalty for missing a gate is disqualification. Each athlete is allowed only one run down the course and athletes' times determine the order of finish.

The 2010 IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup Sestriere, Italy, will continue through 23 January. Skiers in Sestriere are using the same slopes that were the field of play for the Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games.