Paralympics Salt Crisis: Skiers Battle 'Dead Sea' Course as Medals Slip Away
The Winter Paralympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo faced an unprecedented challenge as skiers grappled with a piste packed with salt, leading to widespread consternation and dashed medal hopes. British medal favourite Neil Simpson saw his day end prematurely in the men's giant slalom VI event, highlighting the severe impact of the deteriorating course conditions.
Simpson's Costly Error on a Treacherous Slope
Neil Simpson, aged 23, entered the event as a strong contender after securing ParalympicsGB's sole medal so far at Milano Cortina 2026 in the alpine combined. However, his hopes plummeted early on day seven when he skied wide of a gate halfway down the course at the Tofane Ski Centre. With no second chances in Para alpine skiing, this technical error, attributed to himself and guide Rob Poth, ended his race by 9 am, significantly dampening GB's aspirations.
"We just made a slight line error. In the end, it was very costly unfortunately," Simpson reflected. "There was some good skiing, and we will try and take confidence from that. We will regroup and get ready for the slalom on Sunday." Simpson was one of three athletes who did not finish in his category, which benefited from earlier, better conditions. The duo remains hopeful for their favoured slalom event on the final day, aiming to match Simpson's Beijing 2022 medal tally.
Salt-Laden Piste Causes Chaos Across Categories
While Simpson's race saw three DNFs, the situation worsened as the standing and sitting categories took to the slope. By the end, a staggering 29 athletes across three races had failed to finish, with sit skiers accounting for 18 of those. Salt, used to preserve the course in Cortina's unseasonably warm weather, created inconsistent and hazardous conditions.
British Para alpine skier Fred Warburton vividly described the challenges: "There was more salt in that piste than in the Dead Sea. One gate was absolutely rock solid where the salt had set in, and the next gate was like a bathtub of slush puppy. It was just the inconsistency of that surface that made it feel a bit like survival of the fittest out there." Rainfall earlier in the week had compounded issues, forcing schedule changes like moving Para snowboarding forward a day.
Historic Debuts Amidst Adversity
Despite the setbacks, the Paralympics saw inspiring debuts from British athletes. Nina Sparks made history by becoming the first woman to represent ParalympicsGB in Para snowboarding, finishing 10th in the SB-LL2 category. "It's definitely not sunk in," she said. "[It's been a] pretty crazy day. To have just put down a run that I'm really, really proud of. I will take that."
The youngest team member, 16-year-old Dom Allen, also debuted in Para alpine skiing giant slalom standing, finishing 25th. "I'm absolutely ecstatic, especially finishing both my runs. It's my dream to become a Paralympian, and I can tick that off now," he exclaimed. Additional debuts included Matt Hamilton in Para snowboarding and Sam Cozens in Para alpine skiing, guided by Adam Hall from Aberdeen.
Looking Ahead to the Final Races
Guide Rob Poth emphasized resilience despite the disappointment: "That's ski racing. You have your highs and lows. We know the skiing is there in training. Really positive stuff that we were up at that point, it just adds a little bit to the frustration. We're not going to dwell on it too much. We have another race day and maybe another short training session to get fully prepared, but we are ready to go. The confidence is still there in the training. Hopefully, we have a good last race."
As the Paralympics approach their conclusion, athletes and organizers alike are hoping for improved conditions to ensure fair competition and showcase the world-class talent on display.
