Paralympics Adaptive Cross Country Skiing

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2008/12/22 - Updated: 2023/12/13
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: Adaptive Snow Sports - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Paralympic cross-country skiing is a sport where upper body training is a must as all of the propulsion is done with shoulder and arm muscles only. One classical technique of skiing is done from the sitting position called sit skiing. These skiers are unable to move out of the parallel tracks and the skier propels the sit-ski along with the specially adapted poles.

Introduction

There are two techniques used in cross-country skiing. Free style and Classic.

Free style skiing is done on the section of track without groomed tracks in the snow. The skier uses a skating motion, pushing off with the edge of the skis. This method allows the skier to make good time on the course and is generally about 8% faster over a distance than the classic method. The skis used are shorter than classical.

Main Content

One classical technique of skiing is done from the sitting position called sit skiing. These skiers are unable to move out of the parallel tracks and the skier propels the sit-ski along with the specially adapted poles.

Wheels can be attached to the sit-ski so that dry land and gymnasium training can be carried out. Paralympics cross-country skiing is a sport where upper body training is a must. A rigorous training program is required because all of the propulsion is done only with the shoulder and arm muscles.

The competitions are held over short, middle and long distances, from 2.5 to 20 kilometers. The racers start 30 seconds apart.

The International Paralympic Committee makes use of the Nordic Percentage System which is a handicapping system for each category. That handicap time is added to the skiers time. The winner is the one with the lowest calculated time.

In the relay races, each team skier skies one leg of the circuit. The teams are made up from different categories that are balanced out so that each team is even starting out. This eliminates time calculations. The first team across the finish line is the winner.

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.