Paralympic cross-country skiing

Adaptation of cross-country skiing for disabled athletes

Paralympic Games

Main topics

* Bids
* Charter
* Host cities
* IPC
* NPCs
* Medal tables
* Medalists
* Sports
* Symbols

Games

* Summer Paralympics
* Winter Paralympics

Regional games

* Asian Para Games
* African Para Games
* European Para Championships
* Parapan American Games

* v
* t
* e

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).

## Classification of skiers and events

[edit]

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 with arm impairments, leg impairments or with both arm and leg impairments.
* Sit-Skiers, all with leg impairments, but with varying degrees of torso control.
* Skiers with visual impairment including blindness, low visual acuity, and limited field of vision.

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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]

Games | M/W | Distance

|
|

1976 | men | 5 km | 10 km | 15 km | 3x 5 km | 3x 10 km
women | 5 km | 10 km |  | 3x 5 km |
1980 | men | 5 km | 10 km | 20 km | 4x 5 km | 4x 10 km
women | 5 km | 10 km |  | 4x 5 km |
1984 | men | 5 km | 10 km |  | 3x 2.5 km | 4x 5 km | 4x 10 km
women | 2.5 km | 5 km | 10 km |  | 3x 5 km | 4x 5 km
1988 | men | 5 km | 10 km | 15 km | 20 km | 30 km | 3x 2.5 km | 4x 5 km | 4x 10 km
women | 2.5 km | 5 km | 10 km |  |  | 3x 5 km |  |
1992 | men | 5 km | 10 km | 20 km | 30 km | 3x 2.5 km | 3x 5 km | 4x 5 km
women | 2.5 km | 5 km | 10 km |  |  |  |
1994 | men | 5 km (c) | 15 km (f) | 20 km (c) | 4x 5 km |  | Sit-ski | 5 km | 10 km | 15 km | 3x 2.5 km
women | 5 km (c) | 5 km (f) | 10 km (c) | 3x 2.5 km |  | Sit-ski | 2.5 km | 5 km | 10 km |
1998 | men | 5 km (c) | 15 km (f) | 20 km (c) | 3x 2.5 km | 4x 5 km | Sit-ski | 5 km | 10 km | 15 km
women | 5 km (c) | 5 km (f) | 15 km (c) | 3x 2.5 km |  | Sit-ski | 2.5 km | 5 km | 10 km
2002 | men | 5 km (c) | 10 km (f) | 20 km (f) | 1x2.5 + 2x 5 km | Sit-ski | 5 km | 10 km | 15 km
women | 5 km (c) | 10 km (f) | 15 km (f) | 3x 2.5 km | Sit-ski | 2.5 km | 5 km | 10 km
2006 | men | 5 km | 10 km | 20 km | 1x 3,75 + 2x 5 km | Sit-ski | 5 km | 10 km | 15 km
women | 5 km | 10 km | 15 km | 3x 2.5 km | Sit-ski | 2.5 km | 5 km | 10 km
2010 | men | 1 km (c) | 10 km (c) | 20 km (f) | 1x 4 + 2x 5 km | Sit-ski | 1 km | 10 km | 15 km
women | 1 km (c) | 5 km (c) | 15 km (f) | 3x 2.5 km | Sit-ski | 1 km | 5 km | 10 km

(c) = classic style, (f) = free style (skate-skiing)

## See also

[edit]

* Cross-country skiing at the Winter Paralympics
* Ski for Light

## References

[edit]

1. ^ IPC (2013). "Nordic Skiing Classification". IPC Cross-Country Skiing and Biathlon. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 2014-10-04.
2. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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.

## External links

[edit]

* IPC Nordic Skiing

* v
* t
* e

Sports recognised by the IPC

* Alpine skiing
* Archery
* Athletics
* Badminton
* Biathlon
* Boccia
* Canoeing
* Cross-country skiing
* Cycling
* Equestrian
* Football
* 5-a-side
* 7-a-side
* Goalball
* Ice sledge hockey
* Judo
* Powerlifting
* Rowing
* Sailing
* Shooting
* Sitting volleyball
* Snowboard
* Swimming
* Table tennis
* Taekwondo
* Triathlon
* Wheelchair basketball
* Wheelchair curling
* Wheelchair DanceSport
* Wheelchair fencing
* Wheelchair rugby
* Wheelchair tennis

See also: Summer Olympic sports and Winter Olympic sports

* v
* t
* e

Skiing and snowboarding

* History of skiing
* Glossary of skiing and snowboarding terms

Nordic skiing|

| Competitive|

* Cross-country skiing
* Paralympic
* Ski jumping
* Ski flying
* Nordic combined

|

Endurance|

* Ski marathon
* Ski orienteering
* Ski touring

Recreational|

* Cross-country skiing
* Backcountry skiing
* Roller skiing
* Skijoring

Alpine skiing|

| Olympic disciplines|

* Slalom
* Giant slalom
* Super-G
* Downhill
* Combined

|

Other disciplines|

* Extreme skiing
* Glade skiing
* Heliskiing
* Para-alpine skiing
* Speed skiing

Other skiing|

* Biathlon
* Indoor skiing
* Night skiing
* Ski archery
* Para biathlon
* Ski mountaineering
* Telemark skiing

Freestyle skiing|

* Aerial skiing
* Big air
* Freeriding
* Freeskiing
* Half-pipe skiing
* Mogul
* Ski ballet
* Ski cross
* Slopestyle

Snowboarding|

* Alpine
* Backcountry
* Big air
* Freeriding
* Freestyle
* Half-pipe
* Para snowboard
* Slopestyle
* Snowboard cross
* Snowboard racing

Technique / learning|

* Carved turn
* Jump turn
* Parallel turn
* Pivot turn
* Snowplough
* Stem christie
* Ski school
* Ski simulator
* Skate skiing

Equipment|

* Bindings
* Boots
* Helmet
* Monoski
* Poles
* Skins
* Skis
* List of ski brands
* Snowboard
* Suit
* Wax

Resort amenities|

* Dry ski slope
* Half-pipe
* Superpipe
* Piste
* Ski area
* Ski tunnel
* Snow grooming
* Snowmaking
* Trail

| Ski lifts|

* Aerial tramway
* Chairlift
* detachable
* Funicular
* Funifor
* Funitel
* Gondola lift
* bicable
* tricable
* Hybrid lift
* Surface lift

|

* Category:Skiing
* Category:Snowboarding

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template