Combined Alpine Skiing World Cup Coming Up in Rinn and Abtenau

More than 140 athletes from 17 countries around the world are currently heading to Austria for International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Alpine Skiing World Cup races in Rinn and Abtenau, taking place from 8-15 January.

Two races will take place in Rinn, Austria: a Giant Slalom taking place on 8 January and a Slalom taking place on 9 January. The races are being held on the Paterscherkofel Olympic slope, the Alpine Skiing slope of the Innsbruck 1964 Olympic Games ).

On 10 January the athletes will head over to Abtenau, to compete in five more IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup races. Two Slaloms will be held, one on 11 and one on 12 January. On 13 and 14 January two Giant Slaloms will follow. The World Cup will be finished with a Super Combined race, a combination of one Super G run and on Slalom run, on 15 January.

Top athletes of all categories will be present to fight for a place on the podium and for points for the overall World Cup rankings. These World Cup races are also an important stepping stone on the way to the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

Athletes competing in Alpine Skiing events combine speed, strength and power pushing their limits to speed down mountain tops and through slalom courses. They compete in three categories (Sitting, Standing and Visually Impaired), and a results calculation system allows athletes with different profiles to compete against each other. Sighted guides assist skiers with a visual impairment through the course. Athletes with a physical disability use equipment that is adapted to their needs, including mono-skis, sit-skis or outriggers. Speeding down the slopes with sometimes more than 100km/h, the athletes prove that this is an elite level event.

For more information on the World Cup races in Abtenau, please visit the official event website at www.worldcup-abtenau.at.

For more information on Alpine Skiing, please visit www.ipc-alpineskiing.org.