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Disabled Snowsports New Zealand Alpine Week started at Cardrona
today with the first of a series of races and training days aimed
at producing the next New Zealand Paralympians.
Huge new talent
Gillian Hall, president of Disabled Snowsports New Zealand said
that since the retirement of Paralympians Rachel Batterspby and
Patrick Cooper, the field is wide open for new talent to come through.
"We've got about eight athletes here whose goals are to become members
of the New Zealand Disabled Ski Team and ultimately Paralympians,"
she said. "We're also trying to encourage disabled snowboarders
to participate. If we get good numbers we can put some pressure
on the international bodies to include snowboarding as a demo event
in the 2010 Paralympics programme which would be fantastic."
 GS
and Super G
Barry Cardno of Wanaka, who lost the use of his legs following a
plane crash, is high on the list of potential team members having
won both the Bendigo Valley Foundation Super G and Southern Trust
Giant Slalom during this morning's racing.
Dunedin University student, Anthony
Field, a single arm amputee, also did well this morning taking second
in the Giant Slalom and fourth in the Super G. Lone snowboarder,
Adam Hall from Taeiri won second in the Super G and third in the
Giant Slalom.
Learn to ski or board
As well as the race development camp, the event also includes a
ski week for disabled skiers and snowboarders wanting to get out
on the snow. Participants benefit from lessons and fun races with
the aim of encouraging disabled people from all over the country
to enjoy the thrills of skiing and snowboarding. The athletes feature
a variety of disabilities ranging from single and double amputees
to spinal injuries and the visually impaired.
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