Para Alpine and Para Snowboard Guide

Paralympic Alpine Skiing Categories

These classifications apply across para alpine events such as downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom, and super combined, helping ensure athletes compete against others with similar functional ability.

Vision Impairment (B1–B3)

This category is for athletes with visual impairments. Skiers compete with a sighted guide who skis in front of them, giving verbal directions through a headset.

• B1: Very low or no vision.
• B2: Greater visual function than B1 but still significantly impaired.
• B3: The least severe visual impairment within this category.

Times of visually impaired athletes are adjusted using a factoring system to ensure fair competition across B1–B3 classes.

Standing (LW1–LW9)

This category includes athletes who ski standing but have impairments affecting one or both legs, or one or both arms.

• LW1–LW4: Primarily lower-limb impairments (e.g., single or double leg amputations, significant muscle weakness).
• LW5/7, LW6/8: Upper-limb impairments (one or both arms).
• LW9: Combined impairments affecting both an arm and a leg.

Athletes may use prosthetics or adaptive equipment depending on their needs.

Sitting (LW10–LW12)

Athletes with more significant lower-limb impairments compete using a sit-ski (a molded seat mounted on a single ski).

• LW10: Least trunk control and balance.
• LW11: Moderate trunk control.
• LW12: Good trunk control and balance.

Like the vision category, results in some para alpine events are adjusted using a time-factor system to ensure fairness between classes.

Paralympic Snowboarding Categories

Para snowboarding uses a classification system to group athletes with similar physical impairments so that competition is fair and balanced. The three main sport classes are:

SB-LL1 (Lower Limb 1):
This category is for athletes with a significant impairment in one or both legs, such as an above-knee amputation or a comparable loss of strength, coordination, or range of movement. These athletes typically have greater balance and power limitations.

SB-LL2 (Lower Limb 2):
Athletes in this class have a less severe lower-limb impairment than SB-LL1, such as a below-knee amputation or moderate loss of strength or movement in one or both legs. They generally have more functional ability compared to SB-LL1 athletes.

SB-UL (Upper Limb):
This category includes athletes with impairments affecting one or both arms, such as an amputation or significant loss of function. While their legs are unaffected, upper-limb impairments can influence balance, stability, and control while snowboarding.

These classifications apply across events like snowboard cross and banked slalom to ensure athletes compete against others with similar levels of impairment.