María Martín Granizo and her dream of the Adapted Ski World Cup – CyL Adapted Sport
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The 16-year-old young woman from Leon participates until Sunday, January 29, in the international event at the Catalan station of Espot
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“I would like to play a dignified role and enjoy what have been my favorite paraskiers”
María Martín Granizo will participate until this Sunday, January 29, in the Adapted Ski World Championship, which is held at the Catalan resort of Espot. The 16-year-old from Leon, who has been part of the Alianz Team of Promising Young Paralympics in Winter Sports since last September, hopes to "play a dignified role and enjoy what have been my favorite para-skiers", she explains.
The World Cup event will bring together 115 athletes from 32 different countries in the center of the Pyrenees, and together with María, 18-year-old Audrey Pascual from Madrid, will complete the Spanish tricks.
The participation of the young skier from León will begin this Thursday, January 26, with the giant slalom test; while on Sunday she will play the slalom modality.
"I hope it will be a great experience, to learn, to see the level of paraskiers in my category," adds Leonsa, who with her coach, Ester Noguera, trains in Austria and in La Molina (Puigcerdá) every day from Monday to Friday. in the morning; while in the afternoon she goes to the gym and to school.
The competition
In adapted alpine skiing, athletes are grouped into three categories: one for the blind or visually impaired, who are accompanied by a guide, and two for athletes with physical disabilities or cerebral palsy, depending on whether they compete standing or sitting. All skiers from each of these three groups participate together, using a factor of
correction, which is a certain percentage according to the degree of disability of the participant that is applied to the mark he makes.
The one in Espot is the first World Cup for athletes with disabilities organized by the International Ski Federation (FIS), after joining the Paralympic modality just a few months ago.
The two tests in which the Spanish athletes will participate will be broadcast live through the FIS YouTube channel.
María Martín Granizo, despite her youth, is already a regular at international tests and not always winter ones. As a curiosity, the Leonese from the Federation of Adapted Sports of Castilla y León (Fedeacyl), was proclaimed world surfing champion last December in California. “Both sports have more in common than meets the eye. Both take place in complicated and changing natural environments; and both require great balance, strength and quick decision making. I think they complement each other quite well,” she adds.
However, the efforts to be among the elite and reach the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games – their great goal – entail sacrifices. "Family is what I miss the most... I'm a long way from home, but technology helps a lot," concludes the skier.
