New to snow? Check out how to get started here.
Competing is a great way to test your skills, fine tune your technique and have a lot of fun skiing and snowboarding with your mates. Grabbing a lesson or two at your local resort or signing up to a training programme is the perfect way to get race ready. To sign up, check out the resort lessons and programmes available throughout New Zealand here.
Competitive adaptive snow sports skiers and snowboarders are classified in their respective classes. Classification is a structure to define athletes into categories based on their ability, this allows competitors to compete on an even playing field, despite varying degrees of function. Criteria are designed to ensure that winning is determined by skill, fitness, power, endurance, tactical ability and mental focus, the same factors that account for success in sport for athletes who are able-bodied.
To get that first comp under your belt check out the Adaptive Snow Sports Nationals or the Special Olympics events.
Snow Sports NZ run an adaptive snow sports talent development camp for selected skiers and riders to develop their skills and prepare for international competition. National co-ordinators, national coaches and current national team athletes provide mentoring on what it takes to be a professional athlete.
The next step to competing as a professional athlete is to train and attend Noram/FIS races in the Northern Hemisphere. To compete in FIS Para alpine skiing and snowboard sanctioned events athletes must apply for an FIS license. You can apply for your FIS and Snow Sports NZ membership here.