Para-alpine skier Patrick Jensen and his sighted guide Lara Falk had initially been aiming for Beijing 2022. But, after gaining crucial international experience at the 2017 IPC Alpine Skiing Europa Cup in Veysonnaz, Switzerland – where they posted career-best scores in the Men’s Giant Slalom and Super-G to finish third in both events – they competed in two events at PyeongChang 2018, coming 11th in the Men’s Giant Slalom Visually Impaired and did not finish in the Men’s Slalom Visually Impaired.
Jensen first hit the slopes in 2013 at a Disabled Wintersport Australia camp and quickly soon made a name for himself in Para-alpine skiing circles, debuting for Australia that same year at the IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup in Thredbo, New South Wales.
At the 2019 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, he finished seventh in both the Men’s Downhill and Slalom Visually Impaired and ninth in the Men’s Giant Slalom Visually Impaired.
Jensen contested in five events at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, guided by Amelia Hodgson. He kicked off his campaign with the Men’s Downhill Vision Impaired event, finishing in eighth with a time of 1:23.71 (+10.26 seconds behind gold medallist Johannes Aigner and his guide Matteo Fleischmann of Austria).
On Day 2, the pair finished in sixth position in the Men’s Super G Vision Impaired event, recording a time of 1:16.25 (+7.34 seconds behind gold medallist Neil Simpson and guide Andrew Simpson of Great Britain).
In the Men’s Super Combined Vision Impaired event, the pair finished in eighth in the Super G leg of the event, however, a crash in the Slalom leg saw them register a DNF.
After a solid first run in the Men’s Giant Slalom Vision Impaired on Day 6, Jensen was unable to finish his second run to ultimately record a DNF.
He closed his campaign with his third top 10 finish of the Games in the Men’s Slalom Vision Impaired, finishing in eighth place with a time of 1:51.88.
Outside of training and competition, Jensen, who was diagnosed with macular dystrophy and Stargardt disease at the age of seven, enjoys surfing, skateboarding, and playing the drums and guitar. He is the drummer of Newcastle-based skramz band George Booth.
The Newcastle West local is currently studying massage therapy at Evolve College and is considering a career in physiotherapy.
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