Paralympics: Kiwi completes sitdown slalom

New Zealand Winter Paralympic Games athlete Peter Williams finished 22nd in his opening event in Vancouver yesterday.

Williams wasn't meant to race in the men's Sitdown Slalom until later in the week, but had his races moved forward as a result of heavy weather disrupting other events.

In his first run he was 25th in 57.38s out of 42 finishers. However as the day wore on and weather delayed the second run the majority of competitors were slower in their second turn on the slopes.

He finished his second race up the order, but in a slower time for a combined total time of 2m 05.55s. His overall result put him at 22nd after his two races. The event was won by German Martin Braxenthaler in a combined time of 1m 41.63s.

"It was great to get a feel of the slopes," Williams said.

"I was relatively happy after the first run and really wanted to step it up in the second, but the conditions were tough and I was [starting] towards the end. It was really ruddy out there and the visibility was limited."

Williams, 24, from Auckland, has spina bifida and is competing in his first Winter Paralympic Games.

"The organisation of the games has been an incredible experience so far and something I'll never forget," says Williams.

Williams races in the Super G tomorrow, where he says he's ready to just "go for it".

Adam Hall takes to the slopes for the Standing Slalom today and has been ranked as one of the world's best in this event.