Paralympic gold medallist Bibian Mentel-Spee is one of the athletes named on the list ©Getty Images

Paralympic champions Bibian Mentel-Spee of The Netherlands and American Evan Strong are among the athletes named as the "Ones to Watch" by International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Snowboard for the upcoming season.

The two competitors, winners of gold medals in the women’s and men’s SB-LL2 snowboard cross events respectively at Sochi 2014, have been selected on the 16-strong list with the new campaign fast approaching.

Athletes are in the final stages of their preparations for the 2016-2017 season, due to begin with a Europa Cup and World Cup competition in Landgraaf in The Netherlands, due to take place on Wednesday (November 16) and finish two days later. 

The stand-out event on the calendar is the 2017 World Championships, scheduled to take place in Big White in Canada from February 1 to 8.

A host of the leading names in Para-snowboard have been named as "Ones to Watch", including men’s SB-UL snowboard cross world champion Manuel Pozzerle of Italy.

Men’s SB-LL2 banked slalom world champion Evan Shea of the United States is also on the list and is likely to be locked in a fierce battle for the title at the event in Big White, as well as the IPC Snowboard World Cup series, with compatriot Strong.

Overall World Cup winner Matti Suur-Hamari of Finland is also set to be in contention for glory in the category.

American Evan Strong is another athlete identified as one to look out for in the upcoming Para-snowboard season ©Getty Images
American Evan Strong is another athlete identified as one to look out for in the upcoming Para-snowboard season ©Getty Images

Double world champion Chris Vos of The Netherlands will bid to continue his dominant reign in the SB-LL1 snowboard cross event having also clinched the World Cup titles in the category as well as the banked slalom discipline.

Lisa Bunschoten, snowboard cross World Championships bronze medallist, is another athlete recognised by IPC Snowboard as one to look out for.

Dutchwoman Bunschoten, 24 years the junior of Mentel-Spee at the age of 20, will look to get the better of her team-mate once again this year having pipped her to the banked slalom World Cup crown last season.

Following the opening event of the season in Landgraaf, the World Cup series is due move to Les Angles in France from January 12 to 15.

La Molina in Spain is then scheduled to play host to the next event from January 16 to 21 before the World Championships take centre stage.

After the conclusion of the sport’s flagship biennial competition, the World Cup Finals will be held in Pyeongchang from March 8 to 13 and will act as a test event for the 2018 Winter Paralympic Games in the South Korean resort.