PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![Evan Strong](/sites/default/files/images/140410113744280_478666969.jpg)
Strong start to snowboard World Cup for USA
US athletes came away from the first races with three wins in Landgraaf, the Netherlands.
![No. 45 German Nordic skiers break into top three](/sites/default/files/styles/video_crop_16_9/public/oembed_thumbnails/JjBxW8mzN0dXm1kVIMRyIL837ogkwFkF_S4nHaGs0rg.jpg?itok=2vknRQwI)
No. 45 German Nordic skiers break into top three
Headlined by Martin Fleig and Vivian Hosch, the hosts of the 2017 World Para Nordic Skiing Championships made big improvements in 2015-16.
Masters commits to Nordic skiing after Rio 2016 appearance
The USA’s Oksana Masters competed in handcycling in September and is now determined to reach PyeongChang 2018.
![Daisuke Ikezaki from Japan and USA's Josh Wheeler. Photo credit: CWSA/Kevin Bogetti-Smith.](/sites/default/files/images/160917083930318_Bogetti-Smith_Rio%2BParalympics_Rubgy_game%2B11_20160916_0070.jpg)
Daisuke Ikezaki reflects on Rio 2016 bronze medal
Japan made history at Rio 2016 by becoming the first Asian nation to win a wheelchair rugby medal at a Paralympic Games.
![Slovakia won the bronze medal at the 2015 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships B-Pool in Ostersund, Sweden.](/sites/default/files/images/150321214215480_IPC%2BIce%2BSledge%2BHockey%2BWorld%2BChampionships%2B2015%2BB-Pool_651.jpg)
Slovakian coach aims high for Worlds B-Pool
Miroslav Drab talks player recruitment, retention and training ahead of the ice sledge hockey Worlds B-Pool.
![Chris Vos of the Netherlands, Reinhold Schett of Austria and Mark Mann of the USA at the IPC Snowboard Europa Cup in Landgraaf, the Netherlands.](/sites/default/files/images/161117112545406_15039527_1323481701037282_9077673053679580205_o.jpg)
Two wins apiece for USA and Netherlands at Europa Cup
The Para snowboard season got underway on Wednesday (16 November) in Landgraaf, the Netherlands.
![Norwegian ice sledge hockey team at the 2015 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships A-Pool in Buffalo, USA](/sites/default/files/images/150423172157332_BW3_1252_0.jpg)
Norway set for home ice sledge hockey tournament
They will be joined by Italy and Sweden from Friday (18 November) in Skien for the NIHF Ice Sledge Hockey Invitational.
![Women on snowboard on the slope](/sites/default/files/images/150224193824898_150224_LAMOLINA_IPC_2015_MENTEL_02.jpg)
Mentel-Spee stronger than ever
Despite an ongoing battle with cancer, the Dutch world champion snowboarder will return to the snow this season.
![Two men in wheelchairs on a boccia field of play](/sites/default/files/images/150311155214467_LON_0409_6736.jpg)
Murray and Thomas retire from boccia
The British Paralympians have announced their retirement from the sport.
![Dutch rider Chris Vos won the snowboard-cross men’s SB-LL1 at the 2015 IPC Para-Snowboard World Championships in La Molina, Spain](/sites/default/files/images/150225173658909_Chris%2BVos%2BLa%2BMolina.jpg)
World champion snowboarders ready for return
The Para snowboard season begins in Landgraaf, the Netherlands, on 16 November, featuring a star-studded field.
![No. 46 Slovakians Kasicka, Vidasic perform last dance](/sites/default/files/styles/video_crop_16_9/public/oembed_thumbnails/rCBRZnS9knxF-14IVdTxbuNLmBRRhQSt69koeeOFDE4.jpg?itok=e0w4iCsA)
No. 46 Slovakians Kasicka, Vidasic perform last dance
Helena Kasicka and Peter Vidasic swept all three European titles in front of their home crowd, a grand way to bow out from the sport.
![Anna Jochemsen, Netherlands seems to defy gravity](/sites/default/files/images/140617090438259_SOC_140310_MH_6739_cr.jpg)
Everything set for first alpine skiing Europa Cup races
From Thursday (17 November) the season gets underway with a packed field in Landgraaf, the Netherlands.
![Agitos symbol unveiled on Copacabana Beach.](/sites/default/files/images/160902163448727_agitos.jpg)
The IPC media team shortlisted for three European Excellence awards
The team has been shortlisted for Communications Team of the Year, Online Video Channel and PR Professional of the Year.
![Snowboarder on a slope](/sites/default/files/images/151008122023482_Alex%2BMassie%2Bcredit%2Boriol%2Bmolas.jpg)
Massie ‘in the thick of it’ as season nears
The Canadian snowboarder reveals all about his preparations and how he feels ahead of the first races of the season.
![Marlou van Rhijn 100m world record in Nottwil](/sites/default/files/styles/video_crop_16_9/public/oembed_thumbnails/KKyhTWq-zU9H7q_x833Xdu56-sLVGcgstsJ8xgRBCh4.jpg?itok=elys0OvT)
Para athletics season in review: Sprints
With the season over, we look back at the sprinters who lit up 2016.
![Bethany Firth of Great Britain celebrates winning the gold medal in the Women's 100m Backstroke - S14 Final at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.](/sites/default/files/images/161115102538758_GettyImages-600658638.jpg)
Swimmer Firth wants to ’race as long as possible’
Britain’s most decorated athlete from Rio 2016, Bethany Firth has already begun thinking about Tokyo 2020.
Chilean youngsters Monsalve, Pino seek home crowd support
The 19-year-old table tennis players are among those to watch at the 2016 PTT Chile Open.
![Young woman shows a medal and smiles](/sites/default/files/images/161115151947733_AUG_0077.jpg)
Vio ends stellar season with World Cup gold
The Italian won her fifth title of the year at the final IWAS wheelchair fencing event of the season.
Ultee proves that anything is possible
Hoping to improve on his top three World Cup finish from last season, the Dutch snowboarder explains why helping others motivates him to succeed.
![One-legged skier going down the slope.](/sites/default/files/images/140611094930626_SOC_20140316_LP_0338_WEB.jpg)
Jochemsen’s PyeongChang 2018 quest starts at home
Dutch skier is focused on the World Championships on her road to the Winter Paralympics, and will begin her season in Landgraaf.