Paralympic cross-country skiing
Encyclopedia
Paralympic cross-county skiing is an adaptation of cross-country skiing
for athletes with a disability. Paralympic cross-country skiing is one of two Nordic skiing
disciplines in the Winter Paralympic Games
. It is governed by the International Paralympic Committee
.
Paralympic cross-country skiing includes standing events, sitting events (for wheelchair users), and events for visually impaired athletes.
The Paralympics cross-country skiing is made for skiers with disabilities. It is an adaptation of cross-country skiing, only it allows a wide variety of people who have mutations, amputations, blindness, or any other physical disability, to continue their sport. This sport appeared at the 1976 Winter Games in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, for the first time. Depending on the competitors’ functional disability, an athlete has the option of using a sit-ski. This is a chair with a pair of skis equipped to the bottom of it. Many Sit-skiers use this because they have no use of their legs. This is called paraplegic. To ensure the safety of people with blindness, they follow a guide through the whole race. Standing skiers are skiers with a locomotive disability and who are able to use the same equipment as able-bodied skiers.
Racers use two basic techniques in cross-country: classical, where the skis move parallel to each other through tracks in the snow, and free technique where skiers propel themselves in a manner similar to speed skating, pushing off with the edge of their skis.
Free technique is slightly faster than classical – on average about 8% faster over an entire race distance. Sit-skiers are unable to alter their technique and use their arms and poles to propel themselves along the parallel tracks.
Paralympic cross-country 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. Each race has an interval start with skiers starting every 30 seconds. The International Paralympic Committee utilizes a Nordic Percentage System in order to equalize the disability time handicap for skiers within each category. The percentage is applied to each skier’s final time and the skier with the lowest calculated time is the winner!
In the relay event, each team member skis one leg. Teams are made up of skiers from different categories but with the total percentage for each team being equal. This means that no time calculation is required and the first team across the finish line wins.
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
for athletes with a disability. Paralympic cross-country skiing is one of two Nordic skiing
Paralympic nordic skiing
Paralympic Nordic skiing is a Winter Paralympics sport consisting of biathlon and cross-country skiing. The sport is governed by the International Paralympic Committee....
disciplines in the Winter Paralympic Games
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
. It is governed by the International Paralympic Committee
International Paralympic Committee
The International Paralympic Committee is an international non-profit organisation and the global governing body for the Paralympic Movement. The IPC organizes the Paralympic Games and functions as the international federation for nine sports...
.
Paralympic cross-country skiing includes standing events, sitting events (for wheelchair users), and events for visually impaired athletes.
The Paralympics cross-country skiing is made for skiers with disabilities. It is an adaptation of cross-country skiing, only it allows a wide variety of people who have mutations, amputations, blindness, or any other physical disability, to continue their sport. This sport appeared at the 1976 Winter Games in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, for the first time. Depending on the competitors’ functional disability, an athlete has the option of using a sit-ski. This is a chair with a pair of skis equipped to the bottom of it. Many Sit-skiers use this because they have no use of their legs. This is called paraplegic. To ensure the safety of people with blindness, they follow a guide through the whole race. Standing skiers are skiers with a locomotive disability and who are able to use the same equipment as able-bodied skiers.
Racers use two basic techniques in cross-country: classical, where the skis move parallel to each other through tracks in the snow, and free technique where skiers propel themselves in a manner similar to speed skating, pushing off with the edge of their skis.
Free technique is slightly faster than classical – on average about 8% faster over an entire race distance. Sit-skiers are unable to alter their technique and use their arms and poles to propel themselves along the parallel tracks.
Paralympic cross-country 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. Each race has an interval start with skiers starting every 30 seconds. The International Paralympic Committee utilizes a Nordic Percentage System in order to equalize the disability time handicap for skiers within each category. The percentage is applied to each skier’s final time and the skier with the lowest calculated time is the winner!
In the relay event, each team member skis one leg. Teams are made up of skiers from different categories but with the total percentage for each team being equal. This means that no time calculation is required and the first team across the finish line wins.