100 adaptive skiers carving up slopes

From left, Hamish McLean (10), of Wanaka, one-legged skier Rhys Harrison, of Wellington, Ski the World for All fundraiser Karen Skillen, of San Francisco, Cardrona adaptive snowsports director Leslie Johnston, of Wanaka, sit-skier James Littlejohn, of Auckland (front), and vision-impaired skier Daniel Sharp, of Auckland, at Cardrona this week. Photo by Matthew Haggart.

More than 100 participants at the New Zealand Adaptive Snowsports Festival have been carving up the snow at Cardrona Alpine Resort this week.

Adaptive competitors are tuning their equipment for a day of racing today, with a giant slalom and slalom races, Snowsports NZ adaptive director Libby Blackley said.

The annual event attracted about 30 adaptive skiers and snowboarders to Cardrona this year, along with families and supporters, while volunteers number about 50, Ms Blackley said.

Gold medal-winning adaptive skier Adam Hall and New Zealand Winter Paralympic team-mate Peter Williams skipped the festival this year, because of training and injury rehabilitation, respectively.

The adaptive festival usually holds the New Zealand Adaptive Ski National Championship races, but these have been shifted to coincide with the able-bodied ski racers and athletes competing at the National Alpine Ski Race Championships at Coronet Peak From August 31.

The 2010 adaptive festival doubles this year as a launch pad for English woman Karen Skillen's "Ski the World for All" tour - a campaign to raise awareness and funds for adaptive ski programmes for the disabled.

Ms Skillen and Cardrona skifield have started a fund to buy a new sit-ski for a learners adaptive ski programme.