Winter Sports

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All images © to Disabled WinterSports Australia

Introduction to Skiing & Snowboarding

Recreational activities for the whole family

Skiing and snowboarding are a recreation sport that shows no discrimination between adaptive and able-bodied skiers and riders. It is an activity that all family and friends will enjoy. Mountain views, fresh alpine air and the thrill of riding down the mountain are just some of the rewards. It does not matter what athletic ability you are; skiing and snowboarding can be enjoyed by everyone. From trying to ride every run in the resort to sitting by the fire with a hot chocolate. Skiing and snowboarding will give people living with disability freedom and independence on snow.

Who can participate in Para Snowsports?

Anyone can participate and enjoy Para Snowsports! DWA accommodates all disabilities, all ages and abilities. They strive to “promote and foster the advancement of participation of people with disability in winter sports in Australia, with safety and dignity”.

To compete in Para Alpine and Para Nordic, athletes must have an eligible physical and visual impairment. To compete in Para Snowboarding athletes must have an eligible physical impairment.

To see what physical and visual impairments are eligible, please visit the Lexi Global website: Lexi Global Wintersports

What is Para Alpine Skiing?

Para Alpine Skiing is practised worldwide and features seven events: downhill, slalom, giant slalom, super-G, alpine combined, and parallel team events. The sport was developed following the end of the Second World War, when injured ex-servicemen returned to the sport they loved. Para Alpine Skiing was in the first Paralympic Games, held in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden in 1976. Athletes compete in three categories, visually impaired, standing and seated classes using a factoring system that allows athletes with different impairments to compete against each other. Skiers with a vision impairment are guided by sighted guides using verbal cues. Some athletes use equipment adapted to their needs including outriggers, sit-skis or orthopaedic aids.

Para Alpine Skiing Explained

How to Participate Para Snowsports

Disabled Wintersport Australia (DWA) is the recognised National sporting organisation for people with disabilities (NSOD) for snowsports in Australia. DWA provides opportunities for people with a disability to participate in snowsports. DWA’s members range from introductory and recreational skiers and snowboarders to Winter Paralympians.

DWA offers member camps, lift pass concessions, ski and snowboard lesson concessions and adaptive equipment. Member camps are held in New South Wales and Victoria and are a great way to meet other members and improve skills. Member camps are open to any current member, regardless of ability and include accommodation, snowsports guides, equipment, lessons, and lift passes. Specialised adaptive equipment is often a key factor that allows some people with disabilities to access the slopes. This is equipment that has been designed to maximise the mobility of the skier/rider such as sit skis and outriggers. As a DWA member, skiers and riders have access to this specific equipment.

Adaptive Lessons

Most resorts in Australia have specifically trained adaptive snowsport instructors who can be booked via the resort website for lessons of all levels, tailored to the student’s specific needs and goals.

What is Para Snowboarding?

Para Snowboard features three events: snowboard-cross, banked slalom, and giant slalom. The sport owes its success to the determination of a group of pioneering riders who in 2005 began their quest to have the sport included at the Paralympic Winter Games. They were successful and Para Snowboard made its debut at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. Athletes compete in three categories based on the degree of activity limitation resulting from their impairment – SB-LL1 and SB-LL2 for lower-limb impaired riders and SB-UL for upper-limb impaired athletes. Snowboarders use equipment that is adapted to their needs including snowboards and orthopaedic aids.

Para Snowboarding Explained

What is Para Nordic Skiing?

Para Cross Country skiing first appeared at the 1976 Winter Paralympic Games in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The competition is open to athletes with a physical impairment or vision impairment. Depending on the degree of activity limitation resulting from the impairment, a competitor may use adaptive equipment to engage in the sport, like a sit-ski, athletes with vision impairment compete with a sighted guide. In Para Cross Country athletes compete in sprints, 5km, 10km and 20km or participate in a team relay using classical or free techniques. In Para Biathlon the events include sprint, middle distance, pursuit, and individual competitions and take place on a course that is skied several times. This includes a shooting range where athletes must stop and hit five targets between the skiing stages.

Para Nordic Skiing Explained

How do I get Classified?

Snow Australia is the National Sporting Organisation (NSO) for skiing and snowboarding in Australia. Para Futures is held annually where new and emerging athletes can get to know the sport, the community and have the opportunity for national classification. If you have an eligible physical impairment and are interested in getting classified or know more, please contact Snow Australia via para@snow.org.au.

For interested athletes with visual impairments, please contact Paralympics Australia here: VI request for classification