Para Snow Sports World Championships are underway where Par City athletes are competing in alpine, nordic and snowboarding disciplines. Photo: International Paralympic Committee (IPC)

LILLEHAMMER, Norway – The World Para Snow Sports Championships for athletes with physical disabilities got underway Tuesday and will continue through Sunday. The event has reached a milestone becoming the first-ever World Championships to offer prize money to the medallists in Para alpine skiing, Para snowboard and Para Nordic skiing/biathlon. It’s offering a total of 170,000 Euro to athletes who reach the podium in individual events.

“In honour of all the amazing athletes and their outstanding performances, thanks to our partners DNB Bank and The VI Foundation, we are amazed to be able to have a total of 170,000 Euro (1.7 million Norwegian Krone) prize money at the Championships,” said the Lillehammer 2021 Organising Committee in a statement.

Park City’s National Ability Center (NAC) is a leading non-profit organization that provides world-class adaptive recreation and outdoor adventures for individuals and families with differing abilities.

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Included in the National Ability Center’s Team roster in Lillehammer:

Jesse Keefe
Andrew Haragehy, 2018 Paralympian
Ravi Drugan, X-Games competitor
Thomas Wilson

The NAC’s Huntsman Cup Returns for its 33rd Annual Event on February 8 – 10. Paralympic hopefuls from around the world will compete at Park City Mountain for a sanctioned sporting event.

“With the 2022 Winter Paralympics right around the corner, we are beyond excited for our signature NAC event, The Huntsman Cup. This adaptive and inclusive event empowers athletes from around the country and globe to challenge one another and showcase their hard work. This highly sought after event wouldn’t be possible without our amazing volunteers and we encourage the community to contact us to learn more about how they can help onsite,” said Tracy Meier, Program and Education Director at the National Ability Center in a statement.“Adaptive athletes will unite with Park City community members and international peers to celebrate the workmanship exhibited in competitive para Alpine skiing and snowboarding.”

The three-day competition is sponsored by Park City Mountain and Vail EpicPromise builds technical racing skills while also offering a racing venue to qualify for top-level international competitions in preparation for the 2022 Winter Paralympics. Giant Slalom races are scheduled for Feb 8 and 9, followed by two, two-run Slalom races on Feb 10. Register here.

One of the NAC’s largest fundraisers of the year, which is now open for registration, the annual Red, White and Snow event is on March 3 – 5. Red White and Snow features slopeside wine tastings at Deer Valley’s Stein Eriksen Lodge, and a gala dinner and auction at the Montage Deer Valley.

The United States has sent a robust team of athletes to the event in Norway which serves as a precursor for the Beijing 2022 Paralympics which runs March 4 – 13.