Paralympic cross-country skiing

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Larysa Varona of Belarus competing at the 2010 Winter Paralympics. Paralympic XC ski one-arm.JPG
Larysa Varona of Belarus competing at the 2010 Winter Paralympics.

Paralympic cross-country skiing is an adaptation of cross-country skiing for athletes with disabilities. Paralympic cross-country skiing is one of two Nordic skiing disciplines in the Winter Paralympic Games; the other is biathlon. Competition is governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

Contents

Classification of skiers and events

Paralympic cross-country skiing includes standing events, sitting events (for wheelchair users), and events for visually impaired athletes under the rules of the International Paralympic Committee. These are divided into several categories for people who are missing limbs, have amputations, are blind, or have any other physical disability, to continue their sport. The classifications are for: [1]

Standing skiers use the two basic techniques in cross-country: classic-style, where the skis move parallel to each other through tracks in the snow, and the free-style or skate skiing where skiers propel themselves in a manner similar to speed skating, pushing off with the edge of their skis on smoothly groomed firm surfaces. Sit-skiers ride on sleds with skis designed for classic style tracks, propelling themselves with poles. Skiers compete in men’s and women’s individual events over short, middle and long distances ranging from 2.5 kilometres to 20 kilometres based on the type of event. Standing skiers compete in events of varying lengths—sprint (ca. 1,200 m), middle (10 km, men and 5 km, women) and long (20 km, men and 15 km, women). Sit-skiers compete in events of shorter lengths—sprint (ca. 800 m), middle (10 km, men and 5 km, women) and long (15 km, men and 12 km, women). [2]

IPC events use one of three available start formats: individual timed starts, pursuit with multiple starters, and relay with successive competitors. Relay races may have competitors with a combination of disabilities, each of whom is assigned a handicap according to a "Nordic Percentage System." The percentage is applied to each skier’s final time and the skier with the lowest calculated time is the winner. [2]

Equipment

Olena Iurkovska of Ukraine competing on cross-country sit-skis at the 2010 Winter Paralympics. Paralympic XC ski sitting.JPG
Olena Iurkovska of Ukraine competing on cross-country sit-skis at the 2010 Winter Paralympics.

Sit-skiers compete in a sitting position using a sit-ski, which has a chair supported with a suspension over a pair of skis that ride in a track; the chair has strapping to secure the skier. Standing skiers use conventional cross-country racing skis, which are of fiberglass-composite construction. Both use poles, when able, to provide propulsion. [3]

History

According to the IPC, paralympic cross-country skiing was introduced at the 1976 inaugural Winter Paralympics in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, initially using the classic technique. Skate-skiing was first sanctioned at the Innsbruck 1984 Winter Paralympics and became a "medal race" 1992 in Albertville, France. With the Lillehammer 1994 Winter Paralympics Nordic skiers first competed in the same venue used for the associated Olympic Winter Games. [3]

Disciplines and distances

The history of events has evolved by discipline in the distance categories shown. Note that the four-year cycle changed after 1992 to match the pattern of the Olympic Winter Games. [4]

GamesM/WDistance
1976 men5 km10 km15 km3x 5 km3x 10 km
women5 km10 km3x 5 km
1980 men5 km10 km20 km4x 5 km4x 10 km
women5 km10 km4x 5 km
1984 men5 km10 km3x 2.5 km4x 5 km4x 10 km
women2.5 km5 km10 km3x 5 km4x 5 km
1988 men5 km10 km15 km20 km30 km3x 2.5 km4x 5 km4x 10 km
women2.5 km5 km10 km3x 5 km
1992 men5 km10 km20 km30 km3x 2.5 km3x 5 km4x 5 km
women2.5 km5 km10 km
1994 men5 km (c)15 km (f)20 km (c)4x 5 kmSit-ski5 km10 km15 km3x 2.5 km
women5 km (c)5 km (f)10 km (c)3x 2.5 kmSit-ski2.5 km5 km10 km
1998 men5 km (c)15 km (f)20 km (c)3x 2.5 km4x 5 kmSit-ski5 km10 km15 km
women5 km (c)5 km (f)15 km (c)3x 2.5 kmSit-ski2.5 km5 km10 km
2002 men5 km (c)10 km (f)20 km (f)1x2.5 + 2x 5 kmSit-ski5 km10 km15 km
women5 km (c)10 km (f)15 km (f)3x 2.5 kmSit-ski2.5 km5 km10 km
2006 men5 km10 km20 km1x 3,75 + 2x 5 kmSit-ski5 km10 km15 km
women5 km10 km15 km3x 2.5 kmSit-ski2.5 km5 km10 km
2010 men1 km (c)10 km (c)20 km (f)1x 4 + 2x 5 kmSit-ski1 km10 km15 km
women1 km (c)5 km (c)15 km (f)3x 2.5 kmSit-ski1 km5 km10 km
(c) = classic style, (f) = free style (skate-skiing)

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia at the 1980 Winter Paralympics</span> Sporting event delegation

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia at the 2002 Winter Paralympics</span> Sporting event delegation

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Para-Nordic skiing classification</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">LW11</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">LW10</span> Sit-skiing classification for disabled skiers

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">LW2 (classification)</span>

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LW3 is a para-alpine and para-Nordic standing skiing sport class defined by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for skiers with a disability affecting both legs, with double below knee amputation or a combined strength total for both legs of 60, with 80 as the baseline for people without disabilities. For international skiing competitions, classification is done through IPC Alpine Skiing or IPC Nordic Skiing. The classification has two subclasses for para-alpine skiing: LW3.1 which is for people with double below the knee amputations or similar disabilities, and LW3.2 which is for people with cerebral palsy that involves moderate athetoid, moderate ataxic impairment or slight diplegic involvement.

LW4 is a para-alpine and para-Nordic standing skiing sport class defined by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for skiers who may have a disability in one lower extremity, which may be a result of a leg amputation below the knee, knee arthrodesis or a hip arthrodesis. For international skiing competitions, classification is done through IPC Alpine Skiing or IPC Nordic Skiing. A national federation such as Alpine Canada handles classification for domestic competitions.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">LW6/8</span> Skiing sport class

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LW9 is a para-alpine and para-Nordic standing skiing sport class, a classification defined by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for people with upper and lower limb function problems, and includes cerebral palsy skiers classified CP5, CP6 and CP7, along with people with hemiplegia or amputations. For international skiing competitions, classification is done through IPC Alpine Skiing or IPC Nordic Skiing. A national federation such as Alpine Canada handles classification for domestic competitions. This classification is separated into two subclasses including LW9.1 and LW9.2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cross-country skiing (sport)</span> Competitive winter sport

Competitive cross-country skiing encompasses a variety of race formats and course lengths. Rules of cross-country skiing are sanctioned by the International Ski Federation and by various national organizations. International competitions include the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, the FIS Cross-Country World Cup, and at the Winter Olympic Games. Such races occur over homologated, groomed courses designed to support classic (in-track) and freestyle events, where the skiers may employ skate skiing. It also encompasses cross-country ski marathon events, sanctioned by the Worldloppet Ski Federation, and cross-country ski orienteering events, sanctioned by the International Orienteering Federation. Related forms of competition are biathlon, where competitors race on cross-country skis and stop to shoot at targets with rifles, and paralympic cross-country skiing that allows athletes with disabilities to compete at cross-country skiing with adaptive equipment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cross-country skiing at the 2018 Winter Paralympics</span>

Cross-country skiing at the 2018 Winter Paralympics was held at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre, South Korea. The twenty events were held from 11 to 18 March 2018. Canadian Brian McKeever won three individual gold and a team relay bronze, his third triple gold medal performance, for a career total of 13 gold medals and 17 medals in all, making him the most decorated Paralympic cross-country skier ever.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belarus at the 2018 Winter Paralympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Belarus sent competitors the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. People are competing in para-Nordic skiing. The team includes one woman and one man. Both had gone to the Winter Paralympics before. The country has a history of doing well at the Winter Paralympics, having first gone in 1994. Going to South Korea, they had already won 23 Winter Paralympic medals.

References

  1. ↑ IPC (2013). "Nordic Skiing Classification". IPC Cross-Country Skiing and Biathlon. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 2014-10-04.
  2. 1 2 IPC (November 2013). "Nordic Skiing Rules and Regulations" (PDF). IPC Cross-Country Skiing and Biathlon. International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-01-06. Retrieved 2014-10-04.
  3. 1 2 IPC (2013). "About the sport". IPC Cross-Country Skiing and Biathlon. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 2014-10-04.
  4. ↑ IPC (November 2013). "General Search". IPC Historical Results Database. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 2014-10-04.
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