The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) means that the two bodies have agreed to co-operate during the 2010-2011 season to further develop the sport of Para-snowboard, previously referred to as adaptive snowboard.

The MoU covers several areas around management, competition coordination, development and certification of officials and classifiers as well as media and communications.

The MoU also contemplates the possibility to extend this co-operation until the 2013-2014 season.

Para-snowboard is one of the sports hoping to be added to the Paralympics programme in Sochi for 2014.

At the conclusion of the 2010 Games in Vancouver, IPC chief executive Xavier Gonzalez acknowledged interest in hosting additional events and said he expected to receive submissions from groups championing snowboarding, standing hockey, bobsleigh and luge and long track speed skating.

Of all the proposed sports, snowboarding is one of the most promising, having hosted World Cup events since 2008 and a World Championship for the first time in 2009.

Para-snowsport ficials would have to be tandardised the sport, including  fine-tuning the classification system used in other adaptive sports to snowboarding - essentially factoring the particulars of an athletes' disabilities to level the playing field in competitions.

A system has already worked at World Cup events, but it will need to be evaluated by the IPC as well.

The future of adaptive snowboarding was on display at the Opening Ceremonies for the 2010 Paralympic Games when 15-year-old Zach Beaumont, an adaptive snowboarder, lit the torch at BC Place.