
Strong dominates snowboard cross event by www.paralympic.org/news
USA’s Evan Strong and Marc Deraves won their men’s snowboard cross events and the Netherlands’ Bibian Mentel was victorious on the women’s side at the IPC Alpine Skiing event in South Tahoe (Nevada), USA on Sunday (27 January).
Strong, a 2011 X-Games gold medallist, dominated the men’s lower-limb impairment category with a result of 1:39.50, just ahead of Canada’s Ian Lockey who finished in 1:41.02 and his American teammate Keith Gabel, who finished in 1:41.74.
Evan says: "After 9 months of anticipation and preparation for the first US national qualifying World Cup I brought home the GOLD from Sierra at Tahoe! It feels good to start off the season on the "right" foot ;). Now off to the airport to head to CO. For the next World Cup this weekend, stay tuned!"
Full results from the men’s snowboard cross competition can be found here.
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By Alex Houston:
So honored to have recorded Paralympic history in the making today at Sierra at Tahoe
with the largest international adaptive snowboarding competition ever!
Congrats to all the para-snowboarders, especially the lower limb podiums:
Women: Bibian Mentel (gold), Amy Purdy (silver) and newcomer Heidi Jo Duce (bronze)
Men: Evan Strong (gold), Ian Lockey (silver) and Grizzly (Keith) Gabel (bronze)
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By Kathryn Reed of Lake Tahoe News.
Fifty-four riders from eight countries will be competing this weekend at Sierra-at-Tahoe in the first qualifier for the 2014 U.S. Paralympic snowboarding team.
With the folks associated with next year’s Olympics in Sochi, Russia, deciding less than a year ago to include snowboarding in the Paralympics, riders are scrambling a bit.
“I have personally met several of the athletes. They are inspiring as they have overcome their disabilities, and not only get on the mountain — but can beat about half of us through a race course,” Sierra General Manager John Rice told Lake Tahoe News.
More than 20 officials from the International Paralympic Committee and U.S. Paralympic Committee will be in town this weekend. Read More