Jeroen Kampschreur targets first World Cup win of the season

Three-time Tarvisio 2017 world champion Jeroen Kampschreur aims to achieve his first 2017-18 World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup victory of the season when he takes to the slopes in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, from 15-18 January.

The Dutch sit-skier has so far failed to reach the top of the podium in the current World Cup season but is hoping this to change on Swiss slopes, when he competes in two giant slalom and two slalom events.

Norway’s Jesper Pedersen, on the other hand, is enjoying the best season of his career, having secured five wins so far and feeling ready to add more victories to his haul. Japan’s double Sochi 2014 champion Akira Kano will be another to look out for.

The women’s equivalent will be thrilling as Germany’s five-time Sochi 2014 gold medallist Anna Schaffelhuber did not compete in Zagreb, Croatia, and Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, but will return to the slopes for the fourth World Cup in Veysonnaz.

She will face Austrian arch-rival Claudia Loesch, who is leading the overall standings after claiming five World Cup victories.

Neutral athlete and two-time Paralympic gold medallist Aleksei Bugaev is hoping to add a sixth victory to his haul in Veysonnaz in the men’s standing. His strongest opponents will be Austria’s Paralympic and world champion Markus Salcher and France’s two-time Tarvisio 2017 world champion Arthur Bauchet.

Marie Bochet, who has claimed seven wins, will take a break from competing and will not participate in Veysonnaz. It will be the perfect opportunity for her rivals in the women’s standing to reach the top of the podium. Germany’s Sochi 2014 gold medallist Andrea Rothfuss will be the main candidate.

If she maintains the same level from previous World Cups, Slovakia’s Henrieta Farkasova will most probably achieve several wins in Veysonnaz. The multiple-Paralympic and world champion has already sealed six wins this season in the women’s vision impaired.

British skiers Millie Knight and Kelly Gallagher seek to prevent that from happening.

Canadian Paralympic and world champion Mac Marcoux will be one of the strongest contenders in the men’s vision impaired. Other big names competing will be Slovakia’s four-time Paralympic champion Jakub Krako and Italy’s world champion Giacomo Bertagnolli.

The Veysonnaz World Cup will feature up to 114 skiers from 23 countries.

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 Alexis Vapaille.