Snow Sport Youth Circuit kicks off in La Molina

“These kids are the future Paralympians, and we absolutely need to work with the organisations to keep them interested in the sport.”

Twenty athletes took part in five different events on Wednesday (30 January) at the first competition on the European Para Snow Sport Youth Circuit in La Molina, Spain.

In the most populated event, Germany’s Christoph Blankertz won the men’s giant slalom in 59.49, followed by Spain’s Pablo Torrescasana in 1:02.37 and the Netherlands’ Joris Verdonk in 1:03.67.

The Netherlands’ Niels de Langen won the men’s giant slalom sitting event in a time of 52.57, and Spain’s Marcel Sole – the only competitor in the men’s giant slalom visually impaired class – finished in 56.84.

On the women’s side, the Netherlands’ Kim Monsier won the giant slalom standing event in 56.16 and Germany’s Florentine Schlecht won the giant slalom sitting event in 1:20.37.

“I think this camp is so important for the future of the sport,” said Sylvana Mestre, Chairman of the IPC Alpine Skiing Sport Technical Committee.

“These kids are the future Paralympians, and we absolutely need to work with the organisations to keep them interested in the sport.”

The IPC European Para Snow Sport Youth Circuit, funded by the European Union, consists of five competition camps in alpine skiing, nordic skiing and snowboarding for youngsters with an impairment. The primary object of the initiative it to introduce youngsters to winter sports and to provide professional training to already skilled youngsters on their way to a first competition.

Youngsters with a disability from five EU Member States – Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain - aged 10 to 17 years are involved in the Circuit.

The next competition on the circuit will take place from 28 March – 1 April in Rogla, Slovakia.