The Winter Games featured its first WSF para snowboard world
cup at Cardrona Alpine Resort yesterday, with a strong
international field.
It was an all-American result. World No 1 Amy Purdy won the
women's competition in a combined time of 202.69sec, and Evan
Strong, also world No 1, claimed the men's title in
148.25sec, just ahead of New Zealander Carl Murphy.
Purdy and Strong both said Cardrona's world cup course was
the best they had seen for an adaptive competition.
The athletes were now keen to see if snowboard cross would be
included in the 2014 Paralympics in Sochi.
"It's not a Paralympic sport at the moment but we're due to
find out any day," Purdy said.
"I think to bring a sport that a lot of our generation
relates to will definitely benefit the Paralympics and it
will really blur the line between able-bodied and adaptive
sport. We all raced really well here today and showed the
sport has the ability to be included at Paralympic level."
Yesterday's event also included the demonstration sport of
sit ski on the gravity cross course.
Corie Peters, of New Zealand, clocked the fastest time in
190.97sec, after just three weeks in a sit ski. Gemma
Fletcher was first woman in 222.40sec.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.