What to watch: December

Here’s a brief run-down of the top Paralympic sporting events around the world to keep your eyes on in December. 04 Dec 2012 By IPC

The first major IPC Nordic Skiing event of the season will take place in Vuokatti, Finland, as athletes compete in both biathlon and cross-country skiing across all classifications.

World Sledge Hockey Challenge (2-8 December): Canada, Japan, Norway and USA will all take to the ice in Calgary, Canada, with the host nation looking to win their sixth event title and knock of the Americans, who are the defending world and Paralympic champions.

IPC Alpine Skiing Europa Cup (4-6 December): Some of Europe’s top racers will take to the slopes in Pitzal, Germany, in the slalom and giant slalom events for what will be the first Europa Cup of the 2012-13 season. This event will be vital for athletes looking to establish a spot in the rankings for this season.

Ice Sledge Hockey New Year’s Cup (8-10 December): Many of the top teams not at the World Sledge Hockey Challenge will travel to Moscow, Russia for a preview of their top competition. The Czech Republic, Estonia, Great Britain and Sweden will battle it out on the ice with a Russian team that just won the IPC Ice Sledge Hockey B Pool World Championships last month.

IPC Alpine Skiing NORAM Cup (10-14 December): Organised by Disabled Sports USA, this competition will draw some of the best skiers in North America to Copper Mountain in Colorado, USA.

IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup (11-18 December): The first major IPC Nordic Skiing event of the season will take place in Vuokatti, Finland, as athletes compete in both biathlon and cross-country skiing across all classifications. What happens in Vuokatti could give fans a glimpse of who will be the top athletes to watch this season.

Wheelchair Fencing World Cup (12-16 December): Some of the world’s top wheelchair fencers will gather in Hong Kong to compete in the sport’s last major event of the year at the Ma On Shan Sports Centre.