Australian Institute of Sport(AIS)/Paralympic athletes Melissa Perrine (with her guide Andre Bor) and Toby Kane have excelled at the 2011 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships, winning one silver and three bronze medals respectively. The event was held in Sestriere, Italy, from 14 to 23 January.

Perrine claimed Australia’s first silver in the women’s downhill event (visually impaired class) on 16 January, followed two days later by a bronze in the super G and another bronze in the super-combined on the following day.

In doing so, she also became the first Australian female to win a medal at the IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships.

On 20 January Toby Kane claimed bronze — his best-ever result — in the men’s slalom event (LW2 class).

Alpine skiers with disability can reach speeds of more than 100 kilometres per hour in the downhill event, assisted by a sighted guide who skis in front of them calling commands and helping direct them down the course.

The AIS works in partnership with the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) to deliver the Paralympic Alpine Skiing program. This program currently supports ten athletes through leading coach and sports science expertise and world-class training facilities.

AIS Paralympic athletes at the 2011 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships

• Melissa Perrine [B2]: silver (downhill) , bronze (super-G and super-combined) and 4th (slalom)
• Toby Kane [LW2]: bronze (slalom) and 4th (downhill, super-G and super-combined)
• Cameron Rahles-Rahbula [LW2]: 4th (slalom)
• Mitchell Gurley [LW6]: 7th (slalom)