The USSA has implented an adaptive transition which will greatly benefit adaptive athletes. With the development of its Paralympic Division in the last decade, the USOC is in the best position to manage Paralympic skiing and offer the most support for the athletes.

Much has changed in the last decade to make this possible. In the past, the USSA was more closely engaged with governance of the sport through the International Ski Federation. But since 2004, the International Paralympic Committee has had sole jurisdiction over the rules and calendaring of events. During that time, U.S. Paralympics has grown to become a well managed and funded athletic sports organization.

The adaptive high performance director and sport manager at the USOC are there to best support the athletes. The USSA continues to have an adaptive class in its U.S. Cross Country Championships while the USOC will manage the national championships for adaptive alpine. Our alpine coaches will be retained by the USOC while cross country athletes will be managed together with biathlon, where there is already a crossover.

The USOC is focused specifically on enhancing Paralympic awareness and securing new revenue in support of those programs which will help adaptive athletes in their quest to be best in the world.

U.S. Paralympics
www.usparalympics.org

BIATHLON
Biathlon was introduced in Innsbruck in 1988 (for athletes with a physical disability). In 1992, athletes with a visual impairment were also able to compete in Biathlon. The competition is open to athletes with a physical disability and blindness/visual impairment. It consists of a 7.5km route divided into three 2.5km stages. Between the two stages athletes must hit two targets located at a distance of 10 metres. Each miss is penalized by an increase in the overall route time. The most important success factor lies in the capability of alternating the skills of physical endurance and shooting accuracy during the competition. Athletes with blindness/visual impairment are assisted by acoustic signals, which depending on signal intensity, indicate when the athlete is on target. The sport is governed by the IPC with co-ordination by the IPC Nordic Skiing Technical Committee following the modified rules of the International Biathlon Union (IBU).

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
Cross-Country Skiing appeared at the 1976 Winter Games in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The competition is open to athletes with a physical disability and blindness/visual impairment. Depending on functional disability, a competitor uses a sit-ski, a chair equipped with a pair of skis. Athletes with blindness/visual impairment compete in the event with a sighted guide. Male and female athletes compete in short distance, middle distance and long distance (ranging from 2.5km to 20km) or participate in a team relay using classical or free techniques. Cross Country Skiing is governed by the IPC with co-ordination by the IPC Nordic Skiing Technical Committee following modified rules of the International Ski Federation (FIS) and in 2006, is practiced by athletes in 24 countries.