Shea has been in fine form this season, claiming four International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Alpine Skiing World Cup titles, while Strong also picked up a win as well as two silver medal finishes, which sees both men share top spot on the world rankings.

Strong also took gold at the Paralympic Games test event last March on the Rosa Khutor circuit.

They are joined in the provisional US squad by world number three Keith Gabel, Dan Monzo and military veteran and world number 12 Tyler Burdick in a strong team as snowboarding makes its debut on the Paralympic programme at Sochi 2014. 

The women's team will also head to Sochi with strong designs on picking up medals and the five-strong squad will be headed by joint world number two athletes Amy Purdy and Heidi Jo Duce.

Reigning US national champion Duce has picked up two silver and two bronze medals during World Cup competition this season, while Purdy has two silvers and one bronze medal to her name.

World number five Nicole Roundy is also on the plane to Sochi, where snowboard cross for athletes with lower limb impairments will be making its Winter Paralympic Games debut.

Cristina Albert and Megan Harmon complete the US squad.

Amy Purdy will be among the medal favourites in Sochi ©Getty Images



"This is a very exciting day to name our first-ever snowboarding team for the Paralympic Winter Games," said Kevin Jardine, high performance director for US Paralympics alpine skiing and snowboarding.

"We have some of the best snowboarders in the world, and this group of 10 athletes is going to make history in Sochi.

"Some of these athletes have been training for this moment for years, while others found the sport more recently, but the common thread that runs throughout this team is just how dedicated and passionate they are.

"It is going to be an honour to work with this team in Sochi."

The snowboarding competition is due take place on March 14 in Sochi.

The nominations for the US squad are subject to approval from the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

The deadline for the submission of team delegations for the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympic Games is February 21 and selection procedures and dates for the US Team can be found by clicking here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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