Every other week we scour the web for the latest going on in the world of U.S. Para alpine skiing. Here’s what you missed!
Images From Worlds
The 2023 FIS Para Alpine World Ski Championships kicked off last weekend in Espot, Spain. The first few days of training and racing were either postponed or cancelled, but the competition officially started on Monday with the super-G.
Matthew Brewer, a 2022 Paralympian, was stoked after a top-10 finish on the first day of the competition.
Patrick Halgren, another 2022 Paralympian, was off to check the snow on the slopes in Espot.
It's a two-medal day for Team USA as the 2023 world championship competition finally gets underway! 👏
— U.S. Paralympics Alpine Skiing (@USParaAlpineSki) January 23, 2023
Day 1 recap ⏩ https://t.co/bfRkbgODHU#TeamUSA x #ShowTheWorld pic.twitter.com/aFkV3QFMdG
Saylor’s Skiing Journey
Saylor O’Brien, a 19-year-old from Utah, won her first world cup medals this year and followed that up with a bronze in her world championships debut on Monday in Spain.
This all came a year after she delayed her Paralympic Winter Games debut because she wants to gear up for the 2026 Winter Games in Italy.
“I had spent the last six years working very hard for Beijing and qualified to go,” she told USParaAlpineSkiing.org, “but made the absolute most challenging decision of my entire life not to attend but felt I should wait a little longer. So right now I’m just trying to find some hunger to keep me going and keep advancing my skiing day by day and run and run.”
Read more about Saylor’s Paralympic journey here:
Food And A Podium
Allie Johnson, a 2022 Paralympian, won her first career world cup medal earlier this month in Veysonnaz, Switzerland. She celebrated with some local cuisine.
“Guess what’s in the bag. My first World Cup podium and also a vegan Swiss fruitcake!” Johnson posted on Instagram.
She left the country with four medals and a half wheel of Swiss cheese.
Newbie In Spain
Switzerland, check. Spain, check.
Ravi Drugan, a 2022 Paralympian, is in Spain for the first time after skiing at a world cup event in Veysonnaz.
“After an awesome week racing in Switzerland, it’s time for World Championships in Espot Spain! I’ve never been to Spain before, so it’s pretty cool to cross another country off the list I get to ski in,” he wrote on Instagram.
Prayers For Aziza
Danelle Umstead, a four-time Paralympian, has been asking her social media community for prayers. Her guide dog, Aziza, has been going through some medical issues.
“She’s been my eyes, my independence, my best friend since 2013 and has guided me through so many obstacles in life,” Umstead wrote on Instagram. “I’m having a really hard time with this. Please pray for her.”
Happy 29
Tyler Carter, a three-time Paralympian, celebrated his 29th birthday on Jan. 16. Where did he go to celebrate? The slopes, of course.
“Can’t remember the last time I didn’t ski on my birthday and wasn’t going to change that this year!” he posted on Instagram. “Another year older, hopefully a bit wiser – cheers to 29.”
In an earlier post, Carter discussed New Year’s resolutions and how to keep them.