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Australia’s campaign at the Beijing Winter Paralympics starts on Saturday with our three downhill Para-alpine skiers in action, including one whose competition wear will carry a special message of national pride.
After the day begins with the Women’s Downhill Vision Impaired (VI), Women’s Downhill Standing and Women’s Downhill Sitting, Patrick Jensen, competing at his second Games, will set off with guide Amelia Hodgson in the Men’s B2 VI classification, navigating the 2267 metre course with a 645 metre vertical drop at up to 130 kilometres an hour.
Mitchell Gourley then starts his fourth and final Paralympics, competing in the Men’s Downhill Standing after having carried the Australian flag into the National Stadium in Beijing at the Opening Ceremony the previous night.
The final group to race on the opening day of competition will be the Men’s Downhill Sitting, featuring Sam Tait, who will race in a sit-ski spectacularly decorated with ‘The Journey’, a Indigenous design created by artist Rheanna Lotter that has been incorporated into the apparel worn by Australia’s Paralympic Teams since 2018.
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“I wasn’t sure what I was going to do for a design,” Tait said after his final practice run on Thursday. “Then, when Kate [Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin] said we could wear it, I just thought yeah, I’m going to buy a new leg cover and get that wrapped.
“It’s pretty special to be able to incorporate that into my sit-ski and have the whole of Australia watch it and hopefully know the message it says. It’s that we all come from all over Australia and we all join on the same journey, the winter guys and the summer guys, and it’s really nice to bring that into the Winter Games and try to bring that support from back home over here. It’s pretty special. I love it.”
Tait said he was feeling confident after his practice runs on a course he considers to be excellent.
“I didn’t get to race at the World Champs in January, so it’s nice to be able to be at one of the top events you could ever ski in,” he said.
“I didn’t know what to expect coming to China, but I’m blown away with everything. They’re doing a really good job, the hill’s incredible, the snow is so good and everyone in the team is so happy to be here.
“Obviously it took a lot of paperwork and protocols to go through with Covid, so it was nice to get into the Village and relax a little bit, then wake up on Saturday morning knowing what I need to do and just executing the plan and skiing fast, as fast as I can.”
Watch the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games live and free on 7plus from 4-13 March.
By: David Sygall, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 4 March 2022
Image: Sam Tait via Instagram
