Audi quattro Winter Games NZ to host IPC adaptive skiing champions on home snow

This year's Audi quattro Winter Games NZ will include two IPC Alpine skiing events ©Winter Games NZ

This year's Audi quattro Winter Games NZ will feature two International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Alpine Skiing (IPCAS) Southern Hemisphere Cup (SHC) events that will attract some of the best adaptive ski racers in the world, it has been announced.

The current IPCAS Downhill and Super-G dual World Champion and Sochi 2014 giant slalom Paralympic silver medallist, Corey Peters, and Vancouver 2010 gold medallist, Adam Hall, are expected to compete.

Both New Zealanders have their winter base in Lake Wanaka after returning from the Northern Hemisphere season.

The IPCAS SHC Slalom race is due to take place on August 24 with the giant slalom the following day.

Coronet Peak, near Queenstown, will host both events at its Rocky Gully Race Arena.

Audi quattro Winter Games NZ 2015, due to take place between August 21 and 30, is also set to feature four International Ski Federation Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard World Cups plus Big Air Continental Cups all at Cardrona Alpine Resort; three FIS Cross-country Skiing Australia New Zealand Cup (ANC) races at Snow Farm NZ; two FIS Alpine Skiing ANC races at Coronet Peak; and an international curling tournament in Naseby.

Sochi 2014 silver medallist is among the top skiers expected to compete at the Audi quattro Winter Games NZ ©YouTube

In 2009, Winter Games NZ made global snow sports history by combining adaptive and able-bodied athletes in an elite event.

Audi quattro Winter Games NZ chief executive Arthur Klap said he was proud of this tradition and was looking forward to welcoming adaptive athletes back to the Southern Alps this winter.

“From the very beginning we put adaptive events at the heart of our sports programme," he said.

"Providing a platform for New Zealand adaptive ski racers to compete against the best in the world on home snow can only help with the development of our inspirational athletes and the sport as a whole.

“The success of homegrown stars like Corey Peters, Adam Hall and snowboarder Carl Murphy has put New Zealand adaptive snow sports on the map.

"There are huge benefits in staging elite-level competition for adaptive athletes at the same time and venues as FIS World Cup and other events - not only from a financial point of view, but also to maximise media coverage and encourage grassroots participation.”