Paralympics: Hall primed and ready for back-to-back gold medals attempt

Adam Hall is entering three events in Sochi, the Super G, the Super combined and his favoured slalom. Photo / Getty Images

Adam Hall reckons he's as well prepared as he could possibly be on the eve of his bid for back-to-back Winter Paralympic gold medals.

In Vancouver four years ago, the Otago athlete won the slalom gold, New Zealand's 27th over nine previous winter Games.

This time the 26-year-old, who was born with spina bifida and began skiing aged 6, is entering three disciplines in Sochi, the Super G - a speed event with few turns and gates more widely spaced apart - the Super combined, which is one speed and one technical event, and his favoured slalom. His form is good and he's confident.

"We're well prepared for whatever we have in front of us," Hall said yesterday.

"Over the last 12 months we've worked hard, prepared really well and I believe I'm in good form heading into the Games."

Hall is part of a three-strong New Zealand team, along with fellow skier Corey Peters - who was paralysed after crushing his spinal cord at a motocross event in 2009 - and snowboarder Carl Murphy, a below-the-knee amputee. Murphy has been world No 1 and is fit again after an injury in his Sochi buildup.

All have medal capability but Hall, New Zealand's Snowsports Athlete of the Year in 2008, 2009, and 2012, is the best-known of the group and was New Zealand's flagbearer at this morning's opening ceremony.

Hall has worked to strengthen his secondary disciplines and he is pleased with progress.

"After Vancouver we had a plan for four years to Sochi to excel more in the speed events and in the last couple of seasons I've had really good results at World Cup level in them.

"I'm feeling really confident and strong in those speed events." Chef de mission Ashley Light likes what he's seen of the New Zealand trio.

"These guys are absolute professionals," Light, New Zealand's winter sports programme boss, said.

"Their approach to training, to preparation, to recovery, nutrition, is everything you'd expect."

Murphy joined the team on Thursday night after a stint of training at La Molina in Spain and Light said his strength has been built back up after injury and he's in good shape.

Peters is, to a degree, a work in progress, with the 2018 Games in South Korea the target.

That said ... "if he can stay within the top six in his first runs he could be a shot for a podium," said Light.