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 Program Information Minimize

Alpine Saskatchewan is designating a portion of their web site to support the inception and organization of the para-alpine sport within the province.

On this page, there is a message forum established to provide a communication channel for all interested parties to distribute and reference information within their discipline. There is also program information being developed and published, as well as a para-alpine overview section at the very bottom of the page for background information

Sask Alpine will include para-alpine athletes in the season Sask Cup races for the athlete's personal challenge and development, as well as to prepare those athletes vying for a 2011 Canada Winter Games quota spot.

There are two main initiatives that are being worked on at present (as of August, 2009):

  • Para-alpine athlete development for provincial club programs
  • Para-alpine Saskatchewan representatives for inclusion in 2011 Canada Winter Games (see Sask Alpine program information on the Canada Winter Games on this web site).

At this time these initiatives are under way and being developed by three people; Terry Hooper - President, Alpine Saskatchewan; Gord Poulton - Adaptive Ski Program, Regina Ski Club; Pat Prokopchuk - President, Skiing for Disabled. As more information is developed, this page will be expanded.

For further information, please contact Alana Ottenbreit at the Sask Ski office at sask.ski@sasktel.net.
    
 Program Calendar Minimize

A 2009-2010 Para-Alpine Winter Games calendar has been created by Gord Poulton. You can access it by clicking on the thumbnail picture to the left or through this hyperlink. Note that this calendar will likely evolve over the season - check back to see the most current version through this reference all the time.
    

Welcome to the Discussion Forums for Alpine Saskatchewan. If you're new to Discussion Forums, take a look at the Using Forums 101 reference page.

Respect for each other and the forum itself is paramount. No profanity, verbal abuse, and inflamatory comments will be accepted on the forums. Note that all forums will be moderated (i.e. messages reviewed), so messages may be removed if they do not follow this policy.

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General Discussion General Discussion
General discussion and broadcast information. Restrictions: Everyone can read messages, only registered and logged in users can create and reply to messages, and can subscribe to be notified of new messages.		 2 0 2009-2010 Saskatchewan Pa...
by  Terry Hooper - President
2009-10-23 04:32 AM
Active Forums 4.1
    
 Para-Alpine Overview Minimize

The Slalom and Giant Slalom were the only two alpine events at the first Paralympic Winter Games, held in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, in 1976. Today athletes with a physical disability compete in all 4 alpine events: Downhill, Super-G, Slalom and Giant Slalom. Paralympic alpine athletes compete & use the same venue as the Olympic women’s team. Alpine Skiing is currently practiced by athletes in 35 countries and is steadily growing.

Canada is currently ranked 9th in the world, but are determined to rally back into the top of the field following an injury plaqued 2004-05 season.

COMPETITORS
Athletes in Alpine Skiing events must combine speed and agility while racing down slopes at speeds of up to or more than 100km/h. Paralympic competition includes male and female athletes with a physical disability such as spinal injury, cerebral palsy, amputation, and visual impairments. Athletes compete based on their functional ability, allowing athletes with different disabilities to compete against each other. Alpine skiing includes 3 main classification categories: blind and partially sighted skiers; standing skiers; and sitting skiers.

RULES
Alpine Skiing is governed by the IPC through the International Paralympic Alpine Skiing Committee (IPASC) and the rules of the Federation International de Ski (FIS) are used for Paralympic Winter Games, with only a few exceptions.

Athletes in certain Paralympic classifications (e.g. single-leg amputees who ski without a prosthesis & sit-ski users) use special poles called outriggers. Outriggers have short ski blades on the end and help the skier with balance.

Some athletes with a physical disability compete from a sitting position using a sit-ski, also called a mono-ski. As the name suggests, mono-skis have a specially fitted chair over a single ski. The chair includes seat belts and other strapping, as well as a suspension device to minimize wear and tear on the skier's body.

In all Visually Impaired classes (B1 – B3) a guide is obligatory and the competitor and his guide are a team. Blind skiers are directed through the course by sighted guides using only voice signals or radio communication to indicate the course to follow.

All competitors in the totally blind class (B1) must wear approved backed-out goggles during the competition.

No physical contact between the guide and competitor is allowed during the race. The distance between guide and athlete in technical events (Slalom and Giant Slalom) must not exceed two direction changes and in speed events (Downhill and Super G) must not exceed one direction change.

In partially sighted classes (B2: visual acuity of 20/60 & B3: visual acuity above 20/60 to 6/60), the guide must ski in front of the athlete. For totally blind classes (B1), the guide can ski either in front or behind the athlete.

DISCIPLINES
Downhill: 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.

Slalom: The Slalom is a technical event. The course is shorter than other Alpine Skiing events with a high number of gates (55-75 gates on a men's course and 40-60 on a women's course) that the athletes must negotiate. The penalty for missing a gate is disqualification. Each athlete completes two runs on the same day on different courses. Times from the two courses are added to determine the order of finish.

Giant Slalom: The Giant Slalom is also a technical event. In comparison to the Slalom, the course is longer, there are fewer turns, and the turns are wider and smoother. The number of gates is determined by the vertical drop and the penalty for missing a gate is disqualification. Each athlete completes two runs on the same day on different courses. Times from the two courses are added to determine order of finish.

Super Giant Slalom (Super-G): The Super-G is a speed event. The course is shorter than Downhill but longer than Giant Slalom and Slalom. The number of gates is determined by the vertical drop, with a minimum of 35 direction changes for men and 30 for women. Gates are set at least 25m apart and the penalty for missing a gate is disqualification. Each athlete is allowed only one run down the course. Athletes' times determine the order of finish.

CLASSIFICATION
There are eleven classifications for athletes with a physical disability (eight for standing and four for seated) and three for athletes with visual impairments.

Visually impaired
B1 - Totally blind (no sight)
B2 - Partially sighted (visual acuity of 20/60 – limited sight)
B3 - Partially sighted (visual acuity above 20/60 to 6/60 –more sight than B2)

Standing
LW1 - double above-knee amputees
LW2 - outrigger skiers
LW3 - double below-knee amputees
LW4 - skiers with prosthesis
LW5/7 - skiers without poles
LW6/8 - skiers with one pole
LW9/1 - disability of arm and leg (after amputation)
LW9/2 - disability of arm and leg (cerebral palsy)

Sitting
LW10 - mono skiers (high degree of paraplegia, no muscles in lower body)
LW11 - mono skiers (lower degree of paraplegia, with muscles in lower body)
LW12/1 - mono skiers (lower degree of paraplegia, lower incomplete paralysis)
LW12/2 mono - skiers (double above-knee amputees) 
    

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