23/06/2009 10:39:20 a.m.
Lake Wanaka, New Zealand (Tuesday June 23, 2009) New Zealand’s Cardrona Alpine Resort will next month welcome snowboarders with physical disabilities from across the globe for the inaugural World Snowboard Federation (WSF) Adaptive Snowboard World Championships.
The WSF Adaptive Snowboard World Championships will consist of a sling-shot Snowboardcross race and will be showcased on July 30 during the 2009 Adaptive Snow Sports Festival and National Championships.
Snow Sports New Zealand (SSNZ) in conjunction The New Zealand Snowboard Union (NZSBU) will stage the event. SSNZ Adaptive Manager and Festival Organiser, Libby Blackley said she is looking forward to welcoming world class adaptive snowboarders to New Zealand for the first time.
“We are excited to welcome international snowboarders to ride and compete at this World Championships event, as we work to have the event officially included in the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympics.” said Blackley.
New Zealand’s top Kiwi rider, Carl Murphy of New Plymouth, has set his focus on the World Championships gold medal.
Murphy, who is a below the knee amputee, most recently had a successful northern hemisphere campaign, taking home gold, silver and bronze medals at the Canadian Nationals and the USA Snowboarding Association (USASA) National Championships this year.
The Adaptive Snow Sports Festival runs from the 26th – 30th July at Cardrona Alpine resort. The festival is the highlight of the adaptive snow sports winter calendar in New Zealand, offering instruction and coaching for recreational skiers and boarders alongside the elite level competitions.
The New Zealand Snowboard Union is a member of Snow Sports New Zealand. Snow Sports New Zealand is the official governing body and National Sports Organisation representing all snow sports in New Zealand. www.snowsports.co.nz
ABOUT ADAPTIVE SNOWBOARDING
Adaptive snowboarding refers to a modified version of the sport, which adapts in equipment, rules, and technical specifications that enable persons with physical disabilities to participate in both recreational and competitive activities. Athletes compete based on their functional ability, allowing athletes with different disabilities to compete against each other.
ABOUT THE WORLD SNOWBOARD FEDERATION
The WSF is the only international organisation dedicated exclusively to the development and support of snowboard at all levels, including competitive as well as training levels, snowboarding for disabled, and initiatives for riders of any age. The WSF is a network of international snowboard associations which cooperate all over the world aiming at the development of this sport. Le nations members of the WSF find in it an inspiration source and a support to their activities. The WSF can create added value for all those who practise snowboarding at an international level and it offers ideas, manuals and initiatives. As a result, members are united in a widespread organization with the same objective, that is the progression of snowboard at all levels. www.worldsnowboardfederation.org
