Winter Games organisers win praise

A Beijing Paralympic gold medallist has praised the "open-minded" Winter Games organisers for including International Paralympic Committee races alongside events for able-bodied athletes.

Alpine mono-skier Alana Nichols, of the United States, said the Games provided an opportunity for disabled athletes to display their skills and show they train as hard as their able-bodied counterparts.

"People don't understand that I'm an athlete and it takes as much and more to do what we want to do," Nichols said.

"What they have done here. . . is showcasing our sport on a huge level because the games are really well televised."

Nichols won the women's sitting division of the giant slalom yesterday to take another step step towards competing at the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver.

The conditions have been difficult over the week and the IPC super G was cancelled due to bad weather on Wednesday.

Strong winds were still affecting the course yesterday during the giant slalom, but Nichols said that was part of the sport.

She was paralysed in a snowboarding accident nine years ago but was determined to remain involved in sport and began mono-skiing six years ago.

Wheelchair basketball has taken her to many countries and last year she fulfilled the first half of a dream by representing her country as a member of the gold medal-winning Paralympic wheelchair basketball team.

The second half of the challenge is to compete at the 2010 Winter Paralympics.

"I wanted to reach the highest level [in both sports] . . . It is a massive dream," she said.

Nichols is in the US development squad and is working towards a place on at least the B team for the Paralympics.

Coronet Peak has also won kudos from Nichols for being "one of the most accessible" ski resorts she has visited.

"We drive to the door and it is very easy to get around," she said.

Anna Turney (Great Britain) was second in the women's sitting giant slalom.

Andrea Rothfuss, of Germany, had a clear win in the women's standing division.

Rothfuss clocked 2min 0.93sec, beating Australian Emily Jansen (2:18.70).

The women's visually impaired section was won by Kelly Gallagher, of Northern Ireland, who made her debut yesterday for the British disabled ski team.

She was excited about her first race, which she won with guide Claire Robb in 2min 16.69sec.

"It was great, although I was a bit tentative in the first run. The second was much better because I had more idea of what the course was like," Gallagher said.

Caitlin Sarubbi, of the US, claimed silver with her guide, Gwynn Watkins, in 2:22.19.