Ones to Watch: Alpine Skiing

Ten athletes and five teenage talents have been named on the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) Ones to Watch list for the upcoming Para alpine skiing season, which will include the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games next March.

Selected by World Para Alpine Skiing, the Ones to Watch athletes are individuals who have the potential to make headlines, especially at PyeongChang 2018. The list includes a mix of alpine skiers who won Paralympic and World Championships medals, were prolific on the World Cup circuit, and are also strong spokespersons for the sport.

Ones to Watch for the other winter sports, including Para Nordic skiing and Para ice hockey, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Full biographies of the Ones to Watch for Para alpine skiing are now available.

2017/18 Ones to Watch

Andrea Rothfuss, Germany

Took two golds, two silvers and one bronze at the Tarvisio 2017 World Championships, cementing herself as one of the strongest candidates for gold ahead of PyeongChang 2018. She will face Marie Bochet in one of the most-expected head to heads of the Paralympic Winter Games.

Andrew Kurka, USA

Won his first major medal at the World Championships in Panorama, Canada, in 2015, where he sealed bronze in the men’s super-G sitting. Two years later, Kurka won gold in the downhill, silver in the giant slalom and bronze in the super-G at Tarvisio 2017.

Anna Schaffelhuber, Germany

After claiming five Paralympic titles out of five at Sochi 2014, Schaffelhuber has shown no signs of slowing down, winning multiple World titles and World Cup races. Her rivalry with Austria’s Claudia Loesch will most probably make the headlines again at PyeongChang 2018.

Claudia Loesch, Austria

With three Paralympic Winter Games under her belt, the alpine skiing veteran and two-time Paralympic champion is hoping to reach the podium once again at PyeongChang 2018. On paper, Loesch is one of the favourites for gold, especially after claiming two World titles in Tarvisio, Italy.

Henrieta Farkasova, Slovakia

Aims to extend her supremacy in the visually impaired category, having won four golds and one silver at the World Championships in Tarvisio, Italy, and ended as the 2016-2017 World Cup overall winner.

Jakub Krako, Slovakia

The four-time Paralympic gold medallist has delivered the best performances of his career at Paralympic Games, having won two golds at Vancouver 2010, and two more at Sochi 2014. He is hoping to again top the podium at PyeongChang 2018.

Mac Marcoux, Canada

At just 19 years old, Marcoux rounded off a glittering performance at Tarvisio 2017 by winning four golds and one silver in the men’s visually impaired events. If he performs at the best of his abilities, will be a hard-to-beat opponent at PyeongChang 2018.

Marie Bochet, France

As an 18-time medallist at World Championships and a four-time Paralympic champion at just 23-years-old, Marie Bochet is hoping to continue making history at next year’s Paralympic Winter Games.

Markus Salcher, Austria

Will try to repeat or outdo his performance from Sochi 2014, where he won two golds, at PyeongChang 2018. After winning the World titles and finishing first in the World Cup overall rankings in both the men’s downhill and super-G standing, Salcher is confident to achieve his goal.

Mitchell Gourley, Australia

Celebrated his first major achievement in 2017 by winning the World title in the men’s super-combined standing. Following such feat, the 2017/2018 season definitely presents him with a very good chance while searching for medals at PyeongChang 2018.

2017/18 Teenage Talents

Arthur Bauchet, France

On his debut season, he won two golds and one silver in the men’s standing at Tarvisio 2017. Bauchet also ended third in the super-G World Cup overall rankings. Following such results, he will be greatly-motivated ahead of PyeongChang 2018.

Giacomo Bertagnolli, Italy

Won his first world title on home snow in Tarvisio, Italy, as well as two other podium finishes. He also followed on from his overall World Cup win in 2015-16 with top three finishes in the super-G, super combined and slalom, alongside guide Fabrizio Casal.

Jeroen Kampschreur, Netherlands

At his first World Championships in Tarvisio, Italy, Kampschreur sprang a surprise by claiming three golds in the men’s giant slalom, slalom and super-combined sitting, becoming the first Dutch Para alpine skier to win a world title.

Millie Knight, Great Britain

The youngest British winter Para athlete to ever compete at a Paralympics seeks to seal her first Paralympic medal at PyeongChang 2018, encouraged by her performance at Tarvisio 2017 where she claimed one gold and three silvers.

Robin Cuche, Switzerland

Will be a serious medal contender in the men’s standing events at next year’s Paralympic Winter Games, especially after winning one silver in the super-combined at Tarvisio 2017 and showing a steady growth over the last competitions.