PyeongChang 2018: Loesch confident ahead of Winter Paralympics

Austrian Claudia Loesch is positive ahead of her participation at PyeongChang 2018 as she reached a ski consistency “as never before during a Paralympic year.”

The 29-year-old alpine skier secured seven World Cup wins this season to claim the overall women’s sitting crystal globe with 905 points, 185 more than two-time Paralympic silver medallist Anna-Lena Forster and 205 more than five-time Sochi 2014 gold medallist Anna Schaffelhuber of Germany.

“In both 2013 and 2015, I found this ski consistency as well heading into the World Championships in La Molina, Spain, and Panorama, Canada. But never in the run-up to a Paralympic Winter Games,” she said.

This is going to be Loesch’s fourth Winter Paralympics. She made her debut at Torino 2006, claiming bronze in the downhill. Four years later, she sealed another bronze in the downhill and two golds in the slalom and super-G in Vancouver, Canada, rounding off her best Paralympic performance to date.

At Sochi 2014, she could ‘only’ take two silvers in the super-G and giant slalom.

“I am looking forward to competing at PyeongChang 2018. Being part of a Paralympic Winter Games is the best an athlete can experience,” said Loesch, who has also won seven world titles.

She has competed under many different weather conditions so far this year, which Loesch believes will help her going into PyeongChang.

“I remember the World Cup in Kuhtai, Austria, where it was quite icy. Then we had Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, where it was exactly the opposite as it was soft, bumpy,” Loesch explained.

“That is good because we know that nothing can surprise us at PyeongChang 2018.”

The Paralympic Winter Games take place in PyeongChang, South Korea from 9-18 March. Tickets can be purchased here.