Paralympics: Dream realised for schoolboy

Otago schoolboy Adam Hall today described his selection as a dream come true after he was named as the first member of the New Zealand team for next year's Winter Paralympics in Italy.

Hall, 18, will compete in the slalom, super G, giant slalom and downhill in Torino in March.

The Taieri High School pupil, who was born with spina bifida, said he was overwhelmed at the news.

"Since I was about eight years old, I've been dreaming of this day," he said.

"It's very emotional."

After training and racing in the United States and Europe, Hall has been based at Wanaka with the Disabled Snowsports New Zealand national ski team, the Treble Cone Race Academy and Cardrona Alpine Resort.

A passionate snowboarder, Hall made the switch to skiing because snowboarding is not on the Paralympic programme.

Chef de mission Gerald Davies said Hall's performances over the past year in the northern hemisphere and New Zealand had been outstanding.

He said the selection panel rated him a top-10 contender at the Paralympics. Hall could be joined in Torino by 25-year-old Queenstown skier Ant Field, who needs a top-20 finish at World Cup events in Japan and Korea early next year to earn selection.

- NZPA