By Gary Anderson

July 26 - US Paralympic Skiing squadAmerica has named its Paralympic Alpine skiing team for the upcoming 2013-2014 season as preparations continue for Sochi 2014.

The team, announced by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), is made up of 11 men and 10 women, along with four guides, and contains 11 athletes who have previously competed at the Paralympics.

The women's squad is headed by former Paralympic Athlete of the Year Alana Nicholls, who won gold in wheelchair basketball at Beijing 2008.

At Vancouver 2010 she became the first American athlete to win gold at both Summer and Winter Paralympics following her two gold medals in the downhill sitting and giant slalom sitting, to add to her silver in the super-G sitting and bronze in the super combined sitting at the same Games.

Paralympic skiier Alana Nicholls rightcelebrates winning wheelchair basketball gold at the Beijng Summer Olympics 2008Paralympic skiier Alana Nicholls (right) celebrates winning wheelchair basketball gold at the BeijIng Summer Olympics 2008

Nicholls is joined by another talented multi-sport athlete in the shape of former Para-cycling world champion Allison Jones and Turin 2006 slalom gold medallist Allison Jones, while double Paralympic winner Laurie Stephens is also in the squad.

Stephani Victor, winner of a gold medal at Vancouver 2010 and Turin 2006, and Paralympic bronze medallist Danielle Umstead are also part of a strong looking US women's team.

The men's squad contains Vancouver 2010 silver medallists Mark Bathum and Chris Devlin-Young, who also won gold in the men's super-G sitting at the 2010 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Alpine Skiing World Championships, as well as 2009 World Cup winner Tyler Walker.

Chris Devlin Young named as part of the US Paralympic Alpine Skiing National Team for the 201314 seasonChris Devlin-Young named as part of the US Paralympic Alpine skiing team for 2013-2014 

"After the incredible results we had in the Sochi 2013 World Cup finals, I am very confident that we will have a powerful team this year," said Kevin Jardine, high performance director of the US Paralympics Alpine skiing and snowboarding programmes.

"The experience and leadership on this team will ensure that we are strong contenders in Sochi."

The first meeting of the 2013-2014 Alpine Skiing World Cup season is due to take place in Coronet Peak, New Zealand, on August 22 and 23.

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