What to watch: January 2014

IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup: There will be three stops on the World Cup circuit this month, making it one of the headline events as the Sochi 2014 Paralympics quickly approach. First, the world’s top skiers will take to the slopes in Panorama, Canada, from 8-14 January before heading to Copper Mountain, Colorado, in the USA from 17-20 January. To close out the month, athletes will hit the slopes in Tignes, France, from 27-31 January.

Please visit the IPC Alpine Skiing and Snowboard World Cup page for more information.

IPCAS Snowboard World Cup: Want a sneak peek of the world’s top snowboarders before the sport makes its Paralympic debut in Sochi? Look no further than the two main events this month. The World Cup will stop in Copper Mountain, Colorado, in the USA from 17-19 January before moving to Big White, Canada, from 25-26 January.

Please visit the IPC Alpine Skiing and Snowboard World Cup page for more information.

IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup: The top cross-country skiers and biathletes will converge in Vuokatti, Finland, from 8-12 January and then Oberstdorf, Germany, from 17-26 January. These will be the final stops on the World Cup for the 2013-14 season before the athletes head off to Sochi.

Please visit the IPC Cross-Country and Biathlon calendar and results page for more information.

International Sledge Hockey Tournament: From 14-16 January, Russia’s ice sledge hockey team will host the national squads from the Czech Republic, Norway and Sweden in Podolsk for their final major tune-up tournament prior to Sochi 2014. Look for Russia’s Dmitry Lisov and Norway’s Rolf Pedersen to steal the headlines.

IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World Cup: The wheelchair fencing year kicks off with the first World Cup in Malchow, Germany, from 17-19 January. Look for athletes from top Asian delegations, most notably China, to dominate the World Cup circuit in 2014.

Please visit the IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World Cup website for more information.

Australian Open: The first wheelchair tennis Grand Slam will take place at Melbourne Park from 22-25 January, featuring 20 players, including the top seven ranked men’s and women’s players and the top three ranked quad players. Japan’s Shingo Kunieda, Germany’s Sabine Ellerbrock and the USA’ s David Wagner are the top-ranked players in those divisions, respectively.

Please visit the Australian Open website for more details.

ISAF Sailing World Cup: The 25th anniversary of this world-class international regatta will feature competition in the three sailing disciplines selected for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. The event, taking place in Miami, Florida in the USA from 27 January - 1 February, will be for sailors in the 2.4mR, SKUD-18 and sonar disciplines.

Please visit the ISAF Sailing World Cup website for more information.