Disabled World Cup kicks off today Staff Report - Tue 01/16/2007 11:00PM MST More than 100 of the world's best disabled skiers, representing 15 countries, take to the slopes of Aspen Mountain today to compete in the first local disabled World Cup event.

The event, which will be held at the same venue as the women's World Cup (starting on Ruthie's Run down to Strawpile), continues through Sunday.

The opening of the 2007 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Alpine World Cup tour will feature two super G races today, plus four giant slaloms and four slaloms.

Spectators may take a free shuttle from the Rubey Park bus depot to the competition venue, where the bottom of the course is viewable from near the base of Lift 1A.

The United States will be represented by 20 men and women competing in three categories: sitting, standing and visually impaired. Following the Aspen event, racers move on to British Columbia for three competitions. Five more races will be held in early March in Abtenau, Austria, and the final three competitions will be held in Arte Therme Zoncolan, Italy, on March 14. This is the first of two high-profile local disabled ski events. Next weekend, athletes in sit-skis will compete in the first-ever monoskiercross event at the Winter X Games.

Following is the schedule for the event, which is sponsored by Challenge Aspen: Wednesday: Two super G races, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Ruthie's Run.
Awards ceremony begins 15 minutes after second race at the base of Lift 1A Thursday: Giant slalom, first run at 10 a.m. and second run at 1 p.m., Ruthie's Run (followed by awards ceremony) Friday: Giant slalom, first run at 10 a.m. and second run at 1 p.m., Ruthie's Run (followed by awards ceremony) Saturday: Slalom, first run at 10 a.m. and second run at 1 p.m., Strawpile (followed by awards ceremony) Saturday: Slalom, first run at 10 a.m. and second run at 1 p.m., Strawpile (followed by awards ceremony)