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Tough Conditions Hamper Racing At Winter Paralympics

Monday 15 March 2010, 2:55PM

By Dave Worsley

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An incredible experience. That's how New Zealand 2010 Winter Paralympic
Games athlete, Peter Williams described his first event in Vancouver.

Williams wasn't meant to race in the men's Sitdown Slalom until later in the
week, but had his races moved forward as a result of heavy weather
disrupting other events.

In his first run Williams was 25th in a time of 57.38 seconds out of 42
finishers. However as the day wore on and weather delayed the second run the
slopes cut up and the majority of competitors were actually slower in their
second turn on the slopes.

Williams finished his second race up the order, but in a slower time for a
combined total time of 2 minutes 05.55 seconds. His overall result put him
at 22nd after his two races. The event was won by German, Martin
Braxenthaler in a combined time of 1minute 41.63 seconds.

"It was great to get a feel of the slopes. I was relatively happy after the
first run and really wanted to step it up in the second, but the conditions
were tough and I was (starting) towards the end. It was really ruddy out
there and the visibility was limited," say Williams, 24 from Auckland who
has spina bifida and is competing in his first Winter Paralympic Games.

"The second run was slower as a result of the slope getting really cut up.
Most of the field were slower. Aside from today's race the organization of
the games has been an incredible experience so far and something I'll never
forget," says Williams.

Williams races in the Super G on Wednesday (New Zealand time) where he says
he's ready to just "go for it".

Adam Hall takes to the slopes for the Standing Slalom tomorrow weather
permitting and has been ranked as one of the world's best in this event.

The Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympic Games run from 12-21 March.


www.paralympics.org.nz

http://www.vancouver2010.com/paralympic-games/