World Cup and European Cup for Paraski athletes celebrated its premiere in Saalfelden Leogang

World Cup flair on the Leoganger Asitz: With two European Cup and four World Cup races, the Paraski athletes stopped off in Saalfelden Leogang for the first time and found perfect conditions for the giant slalom and slalom competitions on the Leoganger Almlift.
The local paraski elite were particularly successful - despite the fact that the ÖSV team had to do without top favourite Veronika Aigner due to injury. Her younger sister was surprisingly convincing: Barbara Aigner and her guide Klara Sykora celebrated two World Cup victories and two second places in the visually impaired category at her first World Cup outing. Her brother Johannes won the men's visually impaired category with guide Matteo Fleischmann and followed this up with three more second places. Tyrolean Michael Scharnagl secured third place and Austria's multiple Para-athlete of the Year, Markus Salcher, finished third twice in his standing men's class. 
 

Leogang had stepped in at short notice to organise the World Cup and European Cup races, as had Saalbach, which had previously hosted the speed races. ‘At the final team captains' meeting of the participating nations, there were standing ovations for the organisers, above all the ÖSV, the Leogang Ski Club for staging the races, the Leogang mountain lifts, which ensured perfect piste conditions despite the warm temperatures, and the Salzburger Hof and Bio Hotel Rupertus hotels.

Photo: Barbara Aigner surprised everyone with two World Cup victories at the premiere//credit: Benedikt Lex/SLSV