La Molina 2015 'progressing positively'

Preparations for the 2015 IPC Para-Snowboard World Championships, which take place in just over one month's time from 23-28 February in La Molina, Spain, are progressing very well according to representatives of the sport's governing body, IPC Alpine Skiing.

Despite challenges with the weather, which is already covered by a contingency plan, everything else that is needed to run a successful competition has been finalised or is on schedule.

Speaking after a recent site visit, Dimitrije Lazarovski, Head of IPC Snowsports, said "Considering the challenges that the weather is posing at the moment, in common with a lot of European resorts, the Local Organising Committee have done a great job in putting everything in place.

"The schedule has been confirmed for some time and there is some flexibility within the current dates to move things around if we need to.

"We have also been assured that there are 14,000 cubic metres of snow ready to be deployed onto the courses should there not be enough.

"However we are monitoring the situation closely and temperatures have begun to drop.

"Everything else is ready or in progress - accommodation, transport, media, broadcasting, and ceremonies, ready to welcome athletes, teams and spectators, who can see all the competitions for free every day."

An online accreditation system is available at the La Molina 2015 website and the Team Leader's Manual was published recently. Media accreditation is also open.

La Molina 2015 is expected to attract around 80 athletes from nearly 20 countries and will feature banked slalom and snowboard-cross (head-to-head and time-trial) in SB-LL1, SB-LL2 and upper-limb impairment classifications.

Banked slalom and snowboard-cross head-to-head were introduced for 2014-15 after the successful debut of para-snowboard at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

A split in classifications was also brought in for lower-limb impaired athletes. SB-LL2 athletes have an impairment in one or two legs or with less activity limitation whilst SB-LL1 riders have a significant impairment in one leg or significant combined impairment in both legs.

Results from World and Europa Cups for 2014-15 are available on the para-snowboard pages of IPC Alpine Skiing's website.