Aug 22, 2025 - Learn about all aspects of the classification process across Para Alpine, Para Cross-Country and Para Snowboard in a dedicated series of six articles published ahead of the 2025-2026 season, culminating in the Paralympic Winter Games in Milano-Cortina.
In order to compete in Para snow sports, athletes must go through a rigorous assessment process that determines whether or not their impairment makes them eligible to compete.
Part of that process, once deemed to meet the Minimum Impairment Criteria (MIC), is assigning them the correct sport class. These indicate to what extent an athlete is able to perform the discipline in question, effectively levelling the competition field as much as possible to allow participants of varying impairments compete against each other in the same category.
In Part Two of this series, The Process of Classification, we looked at the eligible impairments that are assessed across the disciplines. Here is a reminder of what they are:
Impaired Muscle Power: Athletes have a health condition that reduces or eliminates their ability to voluntarily contract their muscles to generate force
Limb Deficiency: Athletes have total or partial absence of bones or joints because of trauma or congenital limb deficiency
Leg Length Difference: Athletes have a difference in the length of each leg
Hypertonia: Athletes have increased muscle tension and reduced ability of muscle to stretch, caused by damage to the central nervous system
Ataxia: Athletes have uncoordinated movements caused by damage to the central nervous system
Athetosis: Athletes have continual, slow involuntary movements
Impaired Passive Range of Movement: Athletes have a restriction or a lack of passive movement in one or more joints
Vision Impairment: Athletes have reduced, or no vision caused by damage to the eye structure, optical nerves or optical pathways, or visual cortex of the brain.
As part of the classification system, there has also been a list of non-eligible impairments outlined to help with the assessment process. This helps to identify how and why participants may not be applicable to compete within Para snow sports.
These include, but are not limited to, the following:
Pain
Hearing impairment
Low muscle tone
Hypermobility of joints
Joint instability: such as unstable shoulder joint or recurring dislocation of joint
Impaired muscle endurance
Impaired motor reflex functions
Impaired cardiovascular functions
Impaired respiratory functions
Impairment metabolic functions
Tics and mannerisms, stereotypes and motor perseveration
Short Stature
Visual impairment (applicable in Para Snowboard only)
Intellectual impairment
While several of these may affect daily life, such as chronic pain and hearing loss, they are not recognised as eligible impairments for classification.
What is the Minimum Impairment Criteria?
The Minimum Impairment Criteria (MIC) is defined by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as ‘the minimum level of impairment resulting from an eligible impairment that is required in order for an athlete to be eligible to participate in Para sport.
For each discipline, FIS sets the (MIC) that all athletes who have an eligible impairment must comply with. The Classification Panel will then determine if an athlete meets the MIC as part of the assessment process.
Participants are assessed against the criteria in relation to their chosen sport, with MIC varying not only for the respective disciplines, but for the eligible impairments as well, given the differing ways an impairment can present itself both on an athlete and in the way in which they practice the sport.
Let’s take a look at ‘Lower Limb, Limb Deficiency’, for example, here’s what the MIC states…
Para Alpine Skiing: Unilateral through the ankle amputation
Para Snowboard: Single above ankle amputation, resulting in the loss of a function ankle joint (i.e. absence of ankle joint)
Para Cross Country: Unilateral – loss of limb through or above the ankle joint; or a congenital (birth) defect with the length of the affected limb shorter than the unaffected limb at the level of the ankle. Bilateral – loss of both limbs at the foot; or congenital deficit resulting in the absence of forefoot structure
For a more detailed look at the MIC for the three Para sports, they can be found at the following…
Para Classification: The Sport Classes
Below, FIS outlined the sport classes relevant for each Para snow sport mentioned across this series, highlighting relevant equipment an athlete may use.
Para Alpine Skiing
Sport Classes LW 1-9: Standing Skiers
Lower limb impairments
LW 1: Athletes have significant impairments in both legs which may affect strength, balance, or coordination. Skiers typical use two skies, sometimes tied together, and two poles or outriggers for added stability
LW 2: Athletes have a significant impairment in one leg, which may result in an uneven gait and balance challenges. Skiers compete using one ski and two poles or outriggers to help with control and stability
LW 3: Athletes have an impairment in both legs, less severe than LW 1, while they do not typically require walking aids, they may still experience balance issues or challenges with quick direction changes. Skiers complete using two skis and two poles or outriggers, without needing their skis tied together
LW 4: Athletes have an impairment in one leg which affects strength, stability, and coordination, resulting in possible balance and weight-shifting challenges. Skiers compete using two skis and two poles, which support balance and control
Upper limb impairments
LW 5/7: Athletes have an impairment in both arms making it difficult to use ski poles; they compete without poles, relying on core strength and lower body control. LW 5/7 is divided into three subcategories:
LW 5/7-1: Athletes have an impairment in both arms, e.g. Bilateral through or above elbow amputation which reduces upper-body movement, affecting balance and steering
LW 5/7-2: Athletes have an impairment in both arms, e.g. One through or above elbow amputation and one below elbow amputation, allowing for some upper-body movement assisting balance and control through or above elbow amputation and one below elbow amputation
LW 5/7-3: Athletes have an impairment in both arms, e.g. Bilateral below elbow amputation, allowing for greater upper-body involvement
LW 6/8: Athletes have an impairment in one arm, commonly due to things such as muscle weakness or neurological conditions; they compete using two skis and one ski pole. LW 6/8 is divided into two subcategories:
LW 6/8-1: Athletes have an impairment in one arm, e.g. Unilateral through or above elbow amputation
LW 6/8-2: Athletes have an impairment in one arm, e.g. Unilateral below elbow amputation, the arm retains some movement, but limited grip or pole use can affect power and control during skiing
Combined upper and lower limb impairments
LW 9: Athletes have an impairment that affects arm(s) and leg(s) either on the same or opposite sides; may compete with one or two skis and one pole depending on degree of limitation. LW 9 is divided into two subcategories:
LW9-1: Athletes have an impairment in one arm and one leg where the leg impairment significantly affects skiing performance, resulting in challenges such as reduced balance, limited turning ability, and decreased control
LW9-2: Athletes have an impairment in one arm and one leg, where the leg impairment is less severe allowing for better balance, mobility, and control
Sport Classes LW 10-12: Sit skiers
LW 10-12: Athletes have an impairment affecting their legs/trunk, often caused by conditions such as a spinal cord injury or spina bifida. Athletes with limb deficiencies or neurological impairments affecting the core and lower body may also compete across these classes; they compete in a sit ski
LW10: Athletes have little to no sitting balance due to minimal or absent trunk muscle function, resulting in severe trunk impairment
LW10-1: Athletes cannot control their upper or lower abdominal muscles or spinal extensors, resulting in complete lack of sitting balance
LW10-2: Athletes have minimal control of their upper abdominal muscles but no function in the lower abdominals, resulting in limited sitting balance
LW11: Athletes have partial trunk control, allowing for fair sitting balance but no active hip function
LW12: Athletes have good trunk control but reduced hip and leg function, affecting their stability
LW12-1: Athletes have good trunk control but experience reduced hip strength, which may affect power generation and stability
LW12-2: Athletes have full trunk control but a moderate impairment in their lower limbs which impacts their strength and coordination
Sport Classes AS 1-4: Skiers with Vision Impairment
AS 1-4: Athlete vision is constricted to a diameter of less than 70 degrees and/or they have a static visual acuity of equal to LogMAR 0.6 or worse; a guide will ski in front of the athlete, verbally giving directions down the course.
AS1: Athletes have near-total or total visual impairment and race wearing blacked-out goggles
AS2: Static visual acuity ranges from LogMAR 1.8 to 3.5 - Athletes can detect a moving object at a maximum distance of one metre
AS3: Static visual acuity ranges from LogMAR 1.0 to 1.7 - Athletes can detect a tennis-ball sized object at a maximum distance of three metres
AS4: Static visual acuity ranges from LogMAR 0.6 to 0.9 - Athletes can detected a squash-ball sized object at a maximum distance of six metres
LogMAR—Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution—is a system used to measure visual acuity, which in turn refers to the clarity of one’s vision. A higher LogMAR score indicates a higher degree of impairment.
Skiers generally race using a clock that will run at different speeds in order to compensation for the varying levels of visual acuity.
Para Snowboard
Sport classes in Para Snowboard
SB-LL1: Athletes have significant impairments in one or both legs, which may affect strength, balance, or coordination. This can include limited joint mobility or reduced muscle power, resulting in challenges with controlling the snowboard, maintaining stability, and adapting to terrain changes. Some athletes may use assistive devices like prostheses or orthoses during races to support movement and balance.
SB-LL2: Athletes have less severe impairments in one or both legs, which may involve reduced muscle strength, reduced muscle strength, minor joint restrictions, leg length differences, or mild coordination changes. While it may impact balance and control, it does so less than SB-LL1. Athletes may use a protheses or an orthosis.
SB-UL: Athletes have impairments in one or both arms, which may include reduced muscle strength, limited joint movement, or coordination difficulties. These impairments affect upper-body control and balance.
Here are the impairments eligible for competing within Para Snowboard:
Limb Deficiency
Impaired Muscle Power
Hypertonia
Ataxia or Athetosis
Impaired Passive Range of Movement
Para Cross Country
Sport classes in Cross-Country
Lower limb impairments
LW 2: Athletes have an impairment impact one entire leg, at least equivalent to limb loss through or above the knee; they may use a lower limb prosthesis or an orthosis (if they have loss of muscle power) and use two skis and two poles to compete
LW 3: Athletes have an impairment impact both legs at least equivalent to limb loss through the forefoot; may use lower limb prothesis or an orthosis if needed, and use two skies and two ski poles to compete
LW 4: Athletes have an impairment impact one lower leg at least equivalent to limb loss through or above the ankle joint; may use a prothesis or an orthosis if needed, and use two skis and two poles to compete
Upper limb impairments
LW 5/7: Athletes have an impairment in both arms, meeting the LW8 criteria for each arm preventing the use of ski poles
LW 6: Athletes have an impairment in one arm, at least equivalent to arm amputation or limb deficiency above the elbow. In cases where it is an impairment other than limb loss, the impaired arm is fixed to the body and may not be used during races; they compete with one ski pole
LW 8: Athletes have an impairment affecting one arm at least equivalent to an amputation through one hand resulting in finger loss and the ability to control a ski pole; they compete using one ski pole
Combined upper and lower limb impairments
LW 9: Skiers in this sport class have an impairment that affects at least one arm and one leg. The impairment affecting the arm must be equivalent to the criteria for LW8, and the impairment affecting the leg must be equivalent to the criteria for LW4; depending on the nature and degree of their activity limitation, they will compete with one or two poles
Sport classes LW 10-12: Sit skiers
LW 10-12: All sit-skiers have an impairment affecting their legs and compete in a seated position
LW 10: Athletes have an impairment that impacts their entire trunk and their legs, i.e. a high level of paraplegia, in which the trunk muscles and pelvis are non-functional; athletes must use their arms for sit ski movement
LW 10.5: Athletes have an impairment that impacts their lower trunk and their legs, i.e. mid-level of paraplegia, in which trunk muscles that attach to the pelvis are non-functional; athletes must heavily rely on their arms for sit ski movement
LW 11: Athletes have an eligible impairment that significantly impacts their levels, i.e. a lower level of paraplegia, in which the trunk muscles that attach to the pelvis are functionally intact, however they have no functional leg power; athletes are able to use their full trunk and arms for sit ski movement
LW11.5: Athletes have an impairment that impacts their legs, i.e. a lower level of incomplete paraplegia in which trunk muscles that attach to the pelvis are intact and the athlete has function hip flexion in at least one leg; able to control their arms, trunk and pelvis, and have partial leg power to create sit ski movement
LW 12: Athletes have an impairment that impacts their legs, i.e. a lower level of incomplete paraplegia in which trunk muscles are intact and they have functional hip flexion and hip extension movement in at least one leg; they are able to control their arms, trunk, pelvis, and have hip flexion and hip extension in at least one leg to create forceful sit ski movement
Athletes who meet the LW2-LW4 criteria are eligible to compete in the standing or sitting discipline and must choose their preference.
Sport classes NS 1-3: Skiers with vision impairment
NS 1-3: Athletes vision is constricted to a diameter of less than sixty degrees and/or they have a static visual acuity of equal to LogMAR 0.9, or worse. A guide will ski in front of the athlete verbally giving directions down the course.
NS1: Athletes have a near-total or total visual impairment and must race wearing opaque shades or glasses
NS2: Static visual acuity ranges from LogMAR 2.3 to 3.5 - Athletes can detect a moving object at a maximum distance of on metre, and can opt to use a guide
NS3: Static visual acuity ranges from LogMAR 0.9 to 2.2 - Athletes can detect a bocce-ball-sized object at a maximum distance of three metres, and can opt to use a guide
Similarly to Alpine, skiers race using a clock that runs at different speeds with the aim of compensation for differing levels of light perception and visual acuity across the classes.
As classification evolves, so does FIS’ commitment to the cause. Through until 2028, the organization is investing in long-term research to help improve accuracy and fairness.
You can read all about that in Para Snow Sports classification: Part One.
For more on how it works, read all about the process in Para Snow Sports classification: Part Two.
The fourth article in this series will look at the athlete’s perspective. Pulling on one-to-one interviews with those at the heart of classification, FIS will look at specific experiences through the process and their expectations of it, among other topics.
