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Why the Fastest Skier Doesn't Always Win — Classification, Factors & Worked Examples
In Paralympic alpine skiing, raw finish times are multiplied by a classification-specific factor to produce a "scoring time." This means a skier who finishes in 65 seconds can beat one who finishes in 60 seconds — if their impairment factor is lower. The system works like a golf handicap, ensuring athletes with different levels of impairment compete fairly for the same medals. Factors are refined using data from 400+ elite races over 4 years, making this one of the most data-driven scoring systems in all of sport.
The factored time system exists because Paralympic alpine skiing groups athletes with different types and severities of impairment into the same medal event. A skier missing one leg competes against a skier with impaired arm function, and both compete against a skier in a sit-ski. Raw finish times alone would be meaningless — the system needs a way to level the playing field.
The solution is elegant: Scoring Time = Raw Time × Factor. Each classification has a unique factor (a decimal number less than 1.0) that reflects the typical performance impact of that level of impairment. Athletes with more severe impairments receive lower factors, which reduce their scoring time more. Athletes with less severe impairments receive higher factors (closer to 1.0), meaning less reduction.
The analogy to a golf handicap is apt: just as a golfer with a higher handicap gets more strokes subtracted, a skier with a more severe impairment gets a bigger time reduction. The goal is the same — make competition fair across different ability levels.
Para alpine skiing divides athletes into three broad categories based on their type of impairment. Within each category, multiple specific classifications exist. All categories race for separate medals — standing athletes don't compete against sitting athletes.
Standing skiers have impairments affecting their legs, arms, or both, but ski in an upright position. The "LW" stands for Locomotor Winter. Lower numbers generally indicate more severe impairments.
| Class | Description | Equipment |
|---|---|---|
| LW1 | Severe impairment in both legs (e.g., double above-knee amputation) | 2 skis + 2 outriggers |
| LW2 | Single leg impairment (e.g., above-knee amputation) | 1 ski + 2 outriggers |
| LW3 | Both legs impaired, less severe (e.g., double below-knee amputation) | 2 skis + 2 poles |
| LW4 | One leg impaired, less severe (e.g., below-knee amputation) | 2 skis + 2 poles |
| LW5/7 | Both arms impaired | 2 skis, NO poles |
| LW6/8 | One arm impaired | 2 skis + 1 pole |
| LW9 | Combined arm + leg impairment | Varies per athlete |
Sitting skiers use a monoski (also called a sit-ski) — a molded seat mounted on a single ski. They steer using short outrigger poles with small ski blades on the ends. The classification is based primarily on the level of trunk control, which directly affects the athlete's ability to balance and steer at high speeds.
| Class | Description | Paralysis Level |
|---|---|---|
| LW10 | Most severe sitting class — minimal trunk control | T5–T10 paraplegia |
| LW11 | Moderate sitting class — partial trunk control | Lower paraplegia |
| LW12 | Least severe sitting class — good trunk control | Minimal leg impairment |
For the Milano-Cortina 2026 Games, the traditional B1–B3 vision classes have been replaced by the new AS1–AS4 system in alpine events. All visually impaired skiers race with a mandatory guide skier who skis ahead, providing verbal commands about the course through a headset. The guide and athlete are connected by radio communication.
Note: Nordic skiing (biathlon and cross-country) continues to use the B1–B3 classification system rather than AS1–AS4.
| Class | Description | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| AS1 | Most severe — total or near-total blindness | Mandatory guide skier |
| AS2 | Severe vision impairment | Mandatory guide skier |
| AS3 | Moderate vision impairment (visual acuity ~2/60 to 6/60) | Mandatory guide skier |
| AS4 | Least severe vision impairment | Mandatory guide skier |
The IPC's Factor Expert Group is responsible for calculating and maintaining the factored time coefficients. Their process is rigorous and data-driven:
The principle is straightforward: the more severe the impairment, the lower the factor (bigger reduction). An LW1 skier (double above-knee amputation) gets a much lower factor than an LW4 skier (below-knee amputation), because the LW1 impairment has a significantly greater impact on skiing speed.
This is where the factored time system truly comes alive. Let's walk through a realistic Women's Standing Downhill result:
| Athlete | Class | Factor | Raw Time | Scoring Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athlete A | LW2 | 0.88 | 72.45s | 72.45 × 0.88 = 63.76s |
| Athlete B | LW6/8 | 0.98 | 64.50s | 64.50 × 0.98 = 63.21s |
| Athlete C | LW9 | 0.93 | 69.20s | 69.20 × 0.93 = 64.36s |
RESULT: Athlete B wins with 63.21s despite Athlete A having a bigger raw-time "discount." Athlete A finishes 2nd with 63.76s. Athlete C finishes 3rd with 64.36s — despite being 5 seconds faster than Athlete A in raw time.
This example illustrates why understanding factored time is essential for watching Paralympic alpine skiing. The raw leaderboard means nothing — only the factored leaderboard matters.
Para alpine skiing features the same event disciplines as Olympic alpine skiing, with specific adaptations:
Downhill — The fastest event. Single run, pure speed. Factored times from one run determine the results.
Super-G — Similar to downhill but with more turns. Single run. Slightly more technical than downhill.
Giant Slalom — Two runs on different course settings. Factored times from both runs are summed to determine the final result.
Slalom — Two runs with tight, rapid gates. Sum of both factored times. The most technically demanding event.
Super Combined — One downhill or Super-G run plus one slalom run. Sum of both factored times.
Team Event — Mixed team format where nations field athletes from different categories. Teams race in a bracket-style elimination format.
For visually impaired skiers (AS1–AS4), the guide skier is an integral part of the performance. The guide skis the course ahead of the athlete, providing real-time verbal commands through a radio headset: "left turn," "right turn," "straight," "compression ahead."
The synchronization required is remarkable — at speeds exceeding 100 km/h in downhill, the guide must maintain the perfect distance ahead (close enough to be heard, far enough to not impede) while also skiing a fast, clean line. If the guide crashes, the team is disqualified.
Despite being essential to the performance, guide skiers do not receive medals — a long-standing source of controversy in the Paralympic community. Some argue that the guide's athletic contribution is equal to the athlete's and should be formally recognized.
Paralympic alpine skiing features some of the most specialized equipment in all of sport:
Monoski (Sit-ski) — A custom-molded seat mounted on a single ski. The athlete is strapped in securely and steers using weight shifts and outrigger poles. Suspension systems absorb terrain. At top speeds exceeding 100 km/h, the engineering is critical to safety.
Outriggers — Modified forearm crutches with small ski blades on the bottom. Used by standing skiers (LW1, LW2) and sitting skiers for balance and turning. In the air between gates, outriggers act like stabilizers.
Prosthetics — Athletes with limb deficiencies may ski with or without prosthetics, depending on their preference and classification. Some above-knee amputees ski on one leg with outriggers (LW2), while others use a prosthetic leg (potentially LW4).
Modified bindings and boots — FIS and IPC regulations allow modifications to standard ski equipment to accommodate different impairments, including custom boot shells, binding release settings, and seat attachment systems.