FIS Para XC/Biathlon World Cup returns to the Wasatch Back

Watch World Cup action at Soldier Hollow. Photo: courtesy of FIS Para Sports (Facebook)

MIDWAY, Utah — The FIS Para Nordic World Cup competition will return to the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center March 1-8.

These Paralympic events were last held at Soldier Hollow during the Salt Lake 2002 Paralympic Games. Admission is free for all spectators.

This event will feature Para Cross-Country and Para Biathlon skiing competitions for athletes with physical and visual impairments. Disciplines include individual start, sprint, sprint pursuit, and mass start.

The competition will feature 65 of the best Para athletes from 18 countries, including the United States, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mongolia, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ukraine.

Athletes scheduled to compete for the United States include 17-time Paralympic medalist Oksana Masters, 3-time Paralympic gold medalist Kendall Gretsch, 7-time Paralympic medalist Dan Cnossen and 4-time Paralympic medalist Jake Adicoff.

Schedule:

March 1 – XC Classic Sprint
March 2 – XC Skate 5k sitting / 10k Skate
March 3 – BIA Official Training
March 4 – BIA 12.5k Individual
March 5 – BIA 7.5k Sprint Pursuit
March 6 – BIA Official Training
March 7 – BIA Sprint Pursuit / XC Official Training 20k Skate
March 8 – XC Skate 20k

To volunteer and help create safe, fair events for the athletes, contact Sarah Elder at selder@uolf.org.

Volunteer positions:

• Course– Setup and maintenance of the ski tracks literally provide the foundation for a fantastic race. Working with the Course Crew places you alongside some of the best snow groomers in the country, laying v-board, smoothing corners, and keeping eager crowds at bay as the fastest athletes in the world lay down top performances.
• Stadium– Straight lines, perfect snow, and a love of precise layout make the stadium crew a special place to be. You will be involved in setting up and breaking down the venue for training and event days.
• Start/Finish– This is a precise sport, and the Start and Finish Control Officers help keep the show running on time and according to the books. This team helps guide athletes to the Start Line, welcomes them after the Finish, and provides support in the crucial competition zones.
• Range– The Range Crew has a front-row seat to the shooting platform and is tasked with helping prepare a perfect firing line, changing paper during zero period, and recording shooting data to ensure the shooting portion of the event comes off without a hitch.
• Ski Patrol / Medical– The Medical Team works closely with the Chief of Medical to provide care to the visiting public and athletes on the course.