At the Milan Cortina Paralympics, athletes have been competing in conditions that many say do not resemble a typical Winter Games, with some describing soft, slow snow and rising temperatures that leave parts of the course feeling unpredictable. Some athletes have also questioned whether the Winter Olympics and Paralympics should be held earlier in the year, when cold weather is more reliable.
American para snowboarder Zach Miller said he has been dealing with “really terrible conditions,” and he argued that softer snow can disadvantage lighter riders trying to maintain momentum during Para snowboard cross. Miller finished sixth in the snowboard cross finals and said he believes the conditions encourage riders to make fewer, more conservative moves because the slower, softer surface can punish errors.
Three-time Paralympic gold medalist Brenna Huckaby, also an American snowboarder, said she was in Cortina d’Ampezzo “to represent the disability community on a snowboard” and that she wanted “to give the best show that I can.” Huckaby added that she is not trying to add to her disability by taking unnecessary risks in warm, difficult weather, saying, “But I’m not going to kill myself in the process … I’ve got two kids at home, and I’m already disabled. I’m not trying to disable myself more.”
Some athletes have framed their complaints as both a performance issue and a safety concern. Miller said warmer conditions lead competitors to “minimize mistakes and ride conservative,” and he described feeling that athletes do not feel they can be the competitors they know they are when they worry about their own safety on course.
Medical professionals interviewed by the Associated Press said snow quality can affect injury risk for Paralympians. Sports physician Dr. Jaap Stomphorst said poor snow quality has a “big influence” on the rate of injuries and accidents, citing how athletes such as sit-ski racers cannot adjust their weight to respond to ruts and how bumps can be particularly problematic for visually impaired skiers. Dr. Sarah Eby, head team physician for the U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team, said Para athletes may rely more heavily on equipment they cannot adjust, and she contrasted that with able-bodied athletes who have “two knees” and all their muscles available to respond when needed.
As the Paralympics run through Sunday, the AP reported that organizers canceled practice sessions for skiing and snowboarding to preserve the courses for both performance and safety. Organizers also adjusted race logistics, including moving some starts earlier or rescheduling events to reduce the effect of weather, and they said the sun has been out nearly every day in Cortina d’Ampezzo with afternoon temperatures rising to nearly 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius).
The event’s broader climate context has also been part of the discussion. Climate Central meteorologist Shel Winkley said the early March warmth would be “almost impossible” without the influence of climate change, and researchers have said locations that can reliably host Winter Games will shrink as the planet warms. The International Olympic Committee has said it is considering rotating the Games among a pool of suitable locations and holding them earlier because March is becoming too warm for the Paralympics, with the International Paralympic Committee working with the IOC to consider the dates.
IPC chief brand and communications officer Craig Spence said moving the Games is not easy because of other major winter sporting competitions, but he said it may be necessary to ensure better conditions. Spence dismissed complaints about this year’s courses, saying they had been excellent, while acknowledging that “temperatures rising at Paralympic Winter Games for the last few editions now” is a future problem tied to climate change that affects both winter and summer sports.
Despite the concerns, some athletes said they are adapting to the conditions. Para Alpine skier Andrew Haraghey said he could not finish his super-G standing race on a course he described as far from perfect but said, “We’re making it work, but it’s not ideal,” adding that he believed it was as safe as it was going to be. Canadian Para snowboarder Sandrine Hamel said women’s events are held first in the cooler morning conditions and described warmer, slower, bumpier snow later, while Canadian Para snowboarder Tyler Turner said athletes in Para snow sports can adapt quickly: “For me, I’ve just got to ride and keep my eyes open and stay aware of what’s happening out there on the track.”