History of the New Zealand Disabled Ski Team
Winter sports for athletes with a disability gradually developed after World War II, as large numbers of injured soldiers and civilians tried to return to their skiing activities. Early pioneers such as double-leg amputee Sepp Zwicknagl from Austria experimented with skiing using prostheses.
It was in the 1970s that multi-disability skiing competitions started. In 1974, the first world championships were held in Grand Bornand in France, which featured Alpine (Downhill) and Nordic (Cross-Country) skiing for amputee and visually impaired athletes.
The first Paralympic Winter Games were held in 1976 in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden . There were competitions in Alpine and Nordic Skiing for amputee and visually impaired athletes, and a demonstration event in Sledge Racing.
The success of the first Games led to the second Winter Paralympics in 1980 in Geilo , Norway where New Zealand entered it's first Disabled Ski Team.
By the third Paralympic Winter Games in 1984, which were held at Innsbruck, the Disabled Ski Team were winning the New Zealand's first medals in international skiing competition.
2006 :: 2002 :: 2000 :: 1998 :: 1996 :: 1994 :: 1992 :: 1990 :: 1988 :: 1986 :: 1984 :: 1980
2006 Winter Paralympic Games, Torino, Italy
Click here for more detailsMedals: |
None | |
Team: |
Adam Hall (LW1) | |
| Anthony (Ant) Field (LW6/8-1) | ||
Coaches |
Jane Stevens | |
Chef de Mission / Team Manager: |
Gerald Davies |
2002 Winter Paralympic Games, Salt Lake City, USA
Click here for more detailsMedals: |
4 Gold 2 Bronze |
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Team: |
Rachael Battersby (LW6/3/1/4/5) | Gold - Downhill Gold - GS Gold - Slalom |
| Steve Bayley (LW4) | Gold - GS Bronze - Downhill Bronze - Super G |
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Coaches: |
Patrick Cooper Alan Bender |
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Chef de Mission / Team Manager: |
Janine Elliott |
2000 Disabled Alpine World Championships, Anzere, Switzerland
Medals: |
4 Silver 2 Bronze |
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Team: |
Rachael Battersby (LW6/3/1/4/5) | Giant Slalom - Silver Bronze - Super G |
| Steve Bayley (LW4) | Silver - Downhill | |
| Mathew Butson (LW9/1/3/5) | Silver - Downhill Bronze - Giant Slalom |
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| Sue Gardiner (B2/3) Guide David Gardiner |
Silver - Slalom | |
Coach: |
Patrick Cooper | |
Chef de Mission / Team Manager: |
Janine Elliott |
1998 Winter Paralympic Games, Nagano, Japan
Medals: |
4 Gold 1 Silver 1 Bronze |
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Team: |
Rachael Battersby (LW6/3/1/4/5) | |
| Steve Bayley (LW4) | Bronze - Giant Slalom | |
| Mathew Butson (LW9) | Gold - Super G Gold - Giant Slalom Gold - Slalom Silver - Downhill |
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| Sue Gardiner (B2/3) Guide: David Gardiner |
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| Kevin O'Sullivan (LW1/3/5) | Gold - Super G | |
Coach: |
Patrick Cooper Kevin Jardine |
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Chef de Mission / Team Manager: |
Janine Elliott |
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Physio: |
Gillian Hall |
1996 Disabled Alpine World Championships, Lech, Austria
Medals: |
4 Silver 2 Bronze |
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Team: |
Kevin Aleksich | |
| Mathew Butson (LW9) | Silver - Downhill Silver - Giant Slalom Bronze - Super G |
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| Patrick Cooper (LW4) | Silver - Super G | |
| Joanne Duffy (B2) Guide: Jane Stevens |
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| Kevin O'Sullivan (LW1/3/5) | Silver - Giant Slalom Bronze - Slalom |
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Coach: |
Grant Jameson | |
Chef de Mission: |
Janine Elliott |
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Assistant |
Birgit Standke |
1994 Winter Paralympics Team, Lillehammer, Norway
Medals: |
3 Gold 3 Bronze |
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Team: |
Chris Adamson | |
| Kevin Aleksich | ||
| Ed Bickerstaff | ||
| Mathew Butson (LW9) | ||
| Patrick Cooper (LW4) | Gold - Super G Gold - Slalom Bronze - Giant Slalom |
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| Joanne Duffy (B2) Guide: Ross James |
Gold - Downhill Bronze - Super G |
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| Kevin O'Sullivan (LW1/3) | Bronze - Slalom | |
Coach: |
Jim Davis | |
Chef de Mission: |
Janine Elliott |
1992 Winter Paralympics Team, Albertville, France
Medals: |
2 Gold | |
Team: |
Chris Adamson | |
| Ed Bickerstaff | ||
| Patrick Cooper (LW4) | Gold - Super G Gold - Slalom |
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| Stuart Graham | ||
| Kevin O'Sullivan (LW1/3) | ||
| Devin Shanks | ||
| Mark Weeks | ||
Coach: |
Danny Puffpaff | |
Chef de Mission: |
Janine Elliott |
1990 Disabled Alpine World Championships, Winter Park, USA
Medals: |
1 Bronze | |
Team: |
Ed Bickerstaff (LW6/8) | |
| Patrick Cooper (LW4) | ||
| Stuart Graham (LW1) | ||
| Kevin O'Sullivan (LW1) | ||
| Lorraine Te Punga (LW2) | ||
| Angela Sew Hoy (Deaf) | ||
| Devin Shanks (LW1) | Bronze - Downhill | |
Coach: |
Peter McCallum | |
Chef de Mission / Team Manager / Physio: |
Gillian Hall |
1988 World Winter Games for the Disabled, Innsbruck, Austria
Medals: |
1 Silver | |
Team: |
Ed Bickerstaff (LW6/8) | |
| Patrick Cooper (LW4) | Silver - Slalom | |
| Lorraine Te Punga (LW2) | ||
Coach: |
Peter McCallum | |
Chef de Mission / Team Manager: |
Paul Speight |
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Assistant: |
John Gainsford |
1986 World Disabled Ski Championships, Salen, Sweden
Medals: |
1 Gold 2 Silver |
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Team: |
Ed Bickerstaff (LW6/8) | |
| Patrick Cooper (LW4) | ||
| Vivienne Martin (B2) Guide: Mike Curzon |
NZ Skier of the Year | |
Coach: |
Mike Curzon | |
Chef de Mission: |
Janice Walls | |
Assistant: |
Peter McCallum |
1984 Winter Olympics Exhibition Competition, Innsbruck, Austria
Medals: |
1 Gold 2 Silver 1 Bronze |
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Team: |
Ed Bickerstaff (LW6/8) | |
| Denis Butler (LW2) | ||
| Martin (Marty) Clark (LW2) | ||
| Patricia (Trish) Craig (LW2) | ||
| Mark Edwards (LW3) | Bronze - Downhill | |
| Vivienne Martin (B2) Guide: Mike Curzon |
Gold - Giant Slalom Silver - Downhill |
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| Chris Orr (B1) | Silver - Downhill | |
| Craig Philip (LW5/7) | ||
Coach: |
David Boyd | |
Team Manager : |
Roger McGarry | |
Assistant: |
Lorraine Philip |
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Physio's: |
Mike Curzon Kay Shears |
1980 World Winter Games for the Disabled, Geilo, Norway
Medals: |
None | |
Team: |
Peter Baddely | |
| Ed Nicholls | ||
| Craig Philips | ||
Coach / Team Manager: |
David Boyd | |
Assistant: |
Lorraine Philip Shirley Nicholls |