The 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in La Molina, Spain came<br />to a close on Wednesday (27 February) with the completion of the ski<br />cross team event. Over the last eight days, 120 athletes from 28<br />countries competed in 30 medal events. For the second successive<br />Championships France topped the medals table with 12 medals made up of<br />seven gold, two silver and three bronze. Wednesday's team event, was a<br />non-medal event, and featured fast-paced ski cross for the first time,<br />much to the delight of spectators. Austria took first place, from USA<br />and France in second and third. In her speech at last night's closing<br />ceremony, Sylvana Mestre, the Chair of the IPC Alpine Skiing Sport<br />Technical Committee heaped praised on the outstanding commitment of<br />event organisers, volunteers and athletes. "This event has combined<br />exceptional planning and hard work from the Organising Committee with<br />incredible performances from athletes and guides on an elite level,"<br />said Mestre. "Around 120 athletes from 28 different countries proved<br />their strength with some sensational finishes on the slopes of<br />Catalunya." Amongst the top performers in La Molina was France's Marie<br />Bochet, who was victorious in all five individual events she competed<br />in. A number of skiers also won three gold medals including Spain's Jon<br />Santacana (guide Miguel Galindo Garces), Russia's Alexandra Frantseva<br />(guide Pavel Zabotin), Austria's Claudia Loesch and Japan's Taiki<br />Morii. Mestre was keen however not just to acknowledge those athletes<br />who had won medals, but all athletes, and said she was excited about<br />what lay ahead. Sylvana Mestre said: "For many of you, this is a step<br />that continues your training for future competitions. For others, this<br />was your first experience of a World Championships. Either way, I hope<br />you have reached your goal of success here in La Molina. "I can<br />confidently say that when we all meet again at the Sochi 2014<br />Paralympic Winter Games, what we will see will inspire and excite the<br />world, helping to fulfil the IPC's vision. At the closing ceremony<br />Mestre also announced that the Panorama resort in Invermere, Canada<br />will host the 2015 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships. For more<br />information on the 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships,<br />including race highlights and results, please visit:<br />www.ipcalpineskiingworlds.org
