Episode Details

At the Milan Cortina Paralympics, some athletes competed in shorts, T-shirts, and tank tops. One skier lamented “tropical” conditions, and a snowboarder complained that soft, slow snow put him at a disadvantage. And some worried about their safety. The warm weather at the Paralympics, which ran from March 6 to 15, had some athletes asking: Should these Games be held earlier in the year when cold weather is more reliable? “The Paralympics, it's the most physically demanding event for Para athletes. It's the thing we all train for,” said American Para snowboarder Zach Miller. “It's where we're all putting it out on the line. And when we're dealing with these spring snow conditions and this slush, it makes it even more difficult, even more demanding." And the problem isn’t just that it’s uncomfortable—warm snow actually changes how courses behave. Soft or slushy snow can create friction that hinders speed and control. Experts say control is essential for Para athletes. “One of our Olympic athletes skiing on variable conditions, it’s gonna be riskier, certainly,” said Dr. Sarah Eby, head team physician for the U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team. “But they’ve got two knees. They’ve got all of their muscles working right when they need them to work. Thinking about our Para athletes, maybe they only have one leg. They’re relying more on equipment that they can’t adjust.” Miller, the snowboarder, said warming conditions lead athletes to try to “minimize mistakes and ride conservative, because everything you're going to do is going to be punished out there on the snow.” He added, “You're worried about your own safety on course. You don't feel like you can be the athlete that you know you are." The early March warmth in northern Italy, where the Games were held, would be “almost impossible” without the influence of climate change, said Shel Winkley, a Climate Central meteorologist. Researchers say the places that can reliably host a Winter Games will shrink because of climate change. This article was provided by The Associated Press.