There are five events in para alpine skiing: downhill, Super-G, slalom, giant slalom and super combined. Athletes with physical disabilities compete in standing and on sit-skis while visually impaired racers are accompanied by a guide skier.
Para-alpine skiing demands extreme agility, strength, and speed, with racers reaching and exceeding speeds of 100km/hour. For all events except slalom, athletes race one run and are ranked according to the fastest time. A missed gate results in disqualification.
It is currently practiced in more than 40 countries, and continues to grow in popularity and accessibility. At the first Paralympic Winter Games in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, in 1976, the slalom and giant slalom were the only two para-alpine events. Today, all five para-alpine events are featured at the Paralympic Games.
Canada has won medals in para-alpine skiing at every Paralympic Winter Games since 1976 including eight at the 2014 Sochi Games and 13 on home soil in Vancouver-Whistler in 2010.
