LW12

LW12 is a para-alpine and para-Nordic sit skiing sport class defined by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

An LW12 skier needs to meet a minimum of one of several conditions including a single below knee but above ankle amputation, monoplegia that exhibits similar to below knee amputation, legs of different length where there is at least a 7 centimetres difference, combined muscle strength in the lower extremities less than 71.

Skiers in this class use outriggers, and are required to wear special helmets for some para-alpine disciplines.

Competitors in this class include Australians Michael Norton and David Munk, and American Russell Docker.

This is a para-alpine and para-Nordic sit-skiing classification,[1] where LW stands for Locomotor Winter.

[2][3] To generally be eligible for a sit-skiing classification, a skier needs to meet a minimum of one of several conditions including a single below knee but above ankle amputation, monoplegia that exhibits similar to below knee amputation, legs of different length where there is at least a 7 centimetres (2.8 in) difference, combined muscle strength in the lower extremities less than 71.

[4] Skiers in this class "may have Grade 3-5 hip flexion and extension (unilateral or bilateral)".

[7] For para-alpine skiing, the Australian Paralympic Committee defined this classification as a sit skiing classification for "athletes with spinal injury or some other disability affecting the function in their lower limbs but they have good sitting balance.

[9] The IPC defines this class for para-Nordic skiing as for "those with impairments in the lower limb(s) with normal trunk function.

"[5] For the 1998 Winter Paralympics, the classification was defined for para-Nordic skiing as "Disability of the lower limbs and good sitting balance-Paraplegia and Standing classes with LW 1, 2, 3 and 4.

"[10] Cross Country Canada defined this para-Nordic classification as "Impairments in the lower limb(s) with normal trunk function.

A national federation such as Alpine Canada handles classification for domestic competitions.

[12] For para-Nordic skiing events, classification is handled by IPC Nordic Skiing Technical Committee on the international level and by the national sports federation such as Cross-Country Canada on a country by country level.

[17] The IPC defined this para-alpine subclass as "athletes with spinal cord lesion with a function in the lower limbs and a good sitting balance".

[17] The IPC defined this para-alpine classification as "Athletes with amputations of the lower limbs.

[11][23][24] Skiers in this classification can use a sit-ski and outriggers,[25] which are forearm crutches with a miniature ski on a rocker at the base.

[37] At the 2005 IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships, this class was grouped with other sit-skiing classifications.

[40] Competitors in this class include Australians Michael Norton and David Munk,[35] American Russell Docker,[41][42] and Spain's Óscar Espallargas.