Ski alpine

SPST Swiss Paralympic Ski Team

Rules / Classification

IPC World Para Alpine Skiing (International Paralympic Committee, International Federation)

Kontakt

Head of Technical Commission, Björn Bruhin

Phone: +41 77 428 77 37 / E-Mail 

Wheelchair Sport Switzerland, Thomas Hurni

Phone: +41 41 939 54 34 / E-Mail

The development of snow skiing for athletes with a walking disability goes back into the seventies. Individualists from all corners of the world brought their ‘pashas’ onto the slopes while skiing with their own often difficult to manage and self constructed equipment.

In January 1985 a congress took place in Engelberg under the motto «Winter Sports for Wheelchair riders» with participants from 14 nations. (Organizer Swiss Paraplegics Association (SPA)). This international exchange of ideas assisted the snow sport for wheelchair riders, ski alpine and cross country to finally break through. The technical development of the equipment achieved good standards, and enabled its participants to safely develop an advanced ski technique. The advancements were also possible due to the innovative development of the constructing engineers Raymond Schneebeli, Torgon and later also Klaus von Kaenel, Scharnachtal. Both of them developed ski equipment, which up to today is used, and has helped many wheelchair participants to enjoy snow ski runs!