Turney, an international snowboarder who harboured ambitions of competing in the Vancouver Olympics until she was paralysed in 2006 when she overshot a 30ft jump in Japan, shattering her lower spine and some ribs, finished behind second behind Mary Lou Lowrie.
 
She said: “It feels really great to be racing again and to bring home success in the slalom.

"Nothing beats getting on the podium.

"It was really fun racing down the course and I am much less nervous than I was last year."

There were over 80 competitors in the NorAm races with representatives from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Japan, Mexico and Britain.

Fresh snow meant a soft, rutted and challenging course which caught quite a few competitors out.

Turney's medal followed a series of outstanding performances from the British team at the IPC European Cup races, including Sean Rose finishing second in the giant slalom, which have proved an outstanding start to the campaign for Vancouver.

Turney said: "Hearing how well the team has been doing in Austria, while I have been at Copper Mountain, is the icing on the cake, particularly now we are in the run-up to the Paralympics in March 2010."

Dave Chugg, the manager of the British Disabled Ski team, said: "Years of training is paying off and they are all so proud to be members of such a strong team.

"We are incredibly optimistic for the Paralympics.

"Our skiers are earning a highly respectable international track record as elite athletes, and Britain is rapidly becoming a strong contender for podium finishes this spring."


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