By Nick Butler

An IPC Alpine-skiing season which will culminate in the Winter Paralympics in Sochi in March has got underway in Germany ©Getty ImagesDecember 18 - Austria took an early lead in the overall International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Europa Cup series after their skiers impressively led the way at the opening event of the season in Pitztal, Germany.


Markus Salcher began this success in the men's standing category when he took the overall lead after following seventh place in the slalom race with convincing victories in the giant slalom and super-G competitions.

Teammate Martin Wuerz and Slovakia's Martin France are ranked second and third respectively. 

A slalom victory and top three finishes in the other two events was enough for Roman Rabl to ensure another Austrian lead in the sitting class ahead of Germany's Georg Kreiter.

But there was Slovakian domination in the visually impaired category with Miroslav Haraus leading on 380 points ahead of teammate Jakub Krako.

Austria had more success on the women's side when reigning Paralympic champion Claudia Loesch won the sitting super-G.

Claudia Loesch, pictured en route to a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver, won the Super G ©Getty ImagesClaudia Loesch, pictured en route to a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver, won the Super G ©Getty Images


But Loesch, who came second in the giant slalom but did not finish the slalom, lies second overall behind Germany's Anna Schaffelhuber as home skiers enjoyed plenty of success across the women's events.

Andrea Rothfuss leads the standing class after winning all of her races, except the slalom where she came second to the Netherlands' Anna Jochemsen.

Italy's Melania Corradini is second overall with Jochemsen back in third. 

As they begin a season in which they are chasing a first ever Paralympic skiing medal, Great Britain also enjoyed success courtesy of visually impaired skier Jade Etherington

Despite not finishing the tough slalom course, her victories in the other two races was enough for the overall lead ahead of Poland's Anna Kosinska and Germany's Sarah Hofmann.

Austria lead the overall rankings with 2,005 points ahead of Slovakia with 1,576 points and Germany with 1,525, with Austrians having many more chances on home slopes at the next Europa Cup event in Kuhtai which is due to get underway tomorrow.

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