"Yes we Ride" is the message coming from an amazing event in Valtorta, Italy where the first european official competition for disable snowboarders happened. Photo, video and rank ... even if everyone was a winner in Valtorta.
Following the events in North America, finally Europe hosted an event for adaptive
and disable snowboarders. Valtorta in Italy saw the first ever european competition
for adaptive snowboarders with competitors from Italy and French challenging
in a giant slalom race and showing an unexpected level of riding.
Patrice Barattero (FRA)
Patrice Barattero from France resulted the winner, followed by Christophe Odoit
(FRA) and Gregory Leperdi (ITA). Among the competitors also one Marco Ercole,
bi-amputee rider from Italy. All spectators and media, including main italian
national tv channels Rai Tre and Rai Sport, were stoked about the level of riding
and the positive attitude of the participants who claimed their spot at Para-Olympic
Games where snowboarding is not (yet) an official discipline.
Gregory Leperdi (ITA)
WSF adaptive calendar 2008.09 consists of 4 official events all over the world.
After the Canadian and Italian stops in other competitions will be hosted at
the USA.SA National Championships in Copper Mountain, Colorado, from 4 to 11
april, and a summer stop will happen in New Zealand in july 2009. Riders from
8 nations and competition in Europe, North America and Oceania are part of the
WSF Adaptive Program, which represent a perfect environment for push the adaptive
snowboarding and claim its admission at the Para-Olympic Games.
The event in Valtorta, Italy, was organized by the Italian Association of Guides
for Blind, recognized by Italian Paralympic Committee, World Snowboard Federation
and Federazione Snowboard Italia. For further information about Para-Snowboarding
check www.worldsnowboardfederation.org.
Info and Media Request Marco Sampaoli WSF Board of Directors marco@worldsnowboardfederation.org mobile: +39.340.3285569
ABOUT THE WORLD SNOWBOARD FEDERATION
WSF is the only international organisation exclusively working to develop and
taking care for the sport of snowboard at all levels including, competitions
and education, disable and adaptive snowboarding, snowboard activities for riders
of any age. WSF represent a network of national snowboard associations which
cooperate world wide for the sport development. Members find in WSF a source
of inspiration and support at their activities. WSF can create added value for
everybody involved in snowboard on national level and can offer ideas, manuals
and initiatives as a result of being together in one organization with the same
goal: progression of snowboarding at all levels. www.worldsnowboardfederation.org
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