The first volley of the 2025/2026 FIS Para Alpine skiing season unfolded in Steinach, Austria, a familiar venue serving as a calibration point before a rigorous European circuit. Saylor O’Brien, Mathew Brewer, and Tyler McKenzie of the National Ability Center (NAC) are already factoring into the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) standings, guided by Paralympic medalist Rob Umstead. The schedule – encompassing stops in Italy (Santa Caterina), Switzerland (St. Moritz), Germany (Feldberg), and France (Méribel and Tignes) – functions less as spectacle and more as a series of performance reviews. Each descent, each slalom gate, is weighted against the impending Winter Paralympic Games. American Kelsey O’Driscoll, a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Para Alpine Team member, recorded a podium finish, a single data point in a season-long calculation. The tour progresses to Veysonnaz, Switzerland, offering a final qualification opportunity before Milano Cortina. The McGrath Mountain Center in Park City is clearly serving as a useful preparation ground for these athletes. This isn't about roaring crowds or stadium-light silver; it’s about incremental improvements and margin control. Statement win.
Cable #3291December 22, 2025
Qualifying Runs, European Ice
The FIS Para Alpine World Cup tour commenced in Austria, framing eight European stops as critical qualification events for the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milano Cortina.