Australian Team announced for World Para Alpine Championships

Ski and Snowboard Australia has unveiled the Australian team who will compete at the 2019 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships beginning 21 January.

In a World Para Alpine first, the event will take place across two countries with Italy’s Sella Nevea to stage the speed events and Kranjska Gora in Slovenia to hold the technical competitions.

Dual bronze medallist from the PyeongChang Winter Paralympics, Melissa Perrine will be one to watch for the Aussies at the World Championships alongside her new guide Bobbi Kelly.

Co-Captain from the PyeongChang Winter Paralympic Games, triple Paralympian Mitch Gourley will be out to defend his World Title he claimed in Tarvisio, Italy in 2017.
 
Consisting of five skiers and two sighted guides, the Aussie team will be looking to make their mark after an extended training block in Europe leading up to the major event.

While training conditions haven’t been favourable, the group have concentrated on individual preparations as well as taking part in daily team recaps and video reviews.
 
SSA Performance Pathway & Program Manager, Ben Wordsworth, said the Aussie Para Alpine team will kick off the seven world championship events that will be held across the three months.
 
“Our Australian team for the World Para Alpine will be the first to compete in seven world championships event that will be held between January and March.
 
“Australia’s Para Alpine Team have consistently delivered strong performance on the World Cup and at the World Championships.
 
“While poor conditions in the northern hemisphere has  resulted in many World Cups being cancelled, the team are confident they have training behind them to deliver solid performances at the World Championships,” he said.

2019 World Para Alpine Australian Team:

Melissa Perrine (sighted guide Bobbi Kelly) - With her new guide Bobbi Kelly, the pair have been focusing on the fundamentals, while refining their communication and feedback techniques. Coming off two Paralympic bronze medals at PyeongChang in 2018, Perrine will be one to watch on the slopes.

Mitch Gourley – Gourley has concentrated on fundamental skiing and race day routine and he will bring confidence into his event after a podium appearance at St Moritz’s Europa Cup. With great mental and physical skills continually on the up, the competition should be wary of Gourley.

Tori Pendergast – Working on her consistency on snow while honing her mental skills and technical approach, Prendergast has been in top form of recent times.
 
Sam Tait – Tait has been working hard on his consistency to execute angles in the turn and better his times overall. Tait will be determined to make his presence felt, especially in the speed disciplines of DH and SG.

Patrick Jensen (sighted guide Zali Offord) – Jensen got his season off to a strong start appearing twice on the podium in November at Netherlands. Since then, he has had to adapt to a new sighted guide and early signs are that him and Zali Offord are a great match.

Follow @skiandsnowboardaustralia on Facebook and @skiandboardaus on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with all the highlights or visit www.skiandsnowboard.org.au.
 
WATCH all the action on Paralympic SportTV

For more event information – click here.

To view the 2019 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships schedule – click here.

Upcoming 2019 World Championships:

• FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships | Utah (USA), 1-10 February
• FIS Alpine World Ski Championships | Are (Sweden), 5-17 February
• FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships | Val di Fassa (Italy), 18-27 February
• FIS Nordic World Ski Championships | Seefeld (Austria), 19 February – 3 March
• Para Snowboard World Championships | Pyha (Finalnd), 25-31 March