Two months after winning gold on the slopes of Rosa Khutor, Mentel-Spee already has her sights set firmly on Pyeongchang 2018.

"I just enjoy the sport so much and to be honest, I'm just looking forward to Pyeongchang so much right now," she said.

The 41-year-old was a key player in getting Para-snowboard on to the Paralympic programme.

And while she is set to be one of the oldest competitors taking part in the event in Pyeongchang, at 45, she knows up-and-coming snowboarders mean the sport is in safe hands.

Australia's teenage sensation Ben Tudhope, who placed 10th in Sochi, and Mentel-Spee's compatriot, 16-year-old Chris Vos, are young talent to watch.

Australian teenager Ben Tudhope is a promising talent for the future and shows Para-snowboard is in safe hands ©Getty Images



"[Ben] is so young, but he's such a good rider already," said the Paralympic snowboard cross champion.

"He's going to rip in Pyeongchang.

"And then our own Dutch rider Chris Vos, he's come so far in the last two and-a-half years...he just adores it.

"Every single time he has off school he goes snowboarding.

"It's amazing to see not only how he's grown as an athlete, but also as a person.

"I see huge potential for this sport to grow."

Mentel-Spee won her gold ahead of Cécile Hernandez-Cervellon of France and Amy Purdy of the United States, who secured bronze.

With International Paralympic Committee Alpine Skiing, the governing body for the sport, adding the head-to-head boardercross format for the 2014-2015, there is the prospect of further events being added to the programme for Pyeongchang.

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