LW2 (classification)

LW2 is a para-Alpine and para-Nordic standing ski sport class defined by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Competitors in this class have severe disability in a lower limb, which may be a result of an amputation, or arthrodesis in the leg and hip. Depending on the type of skiing, the international classification process for LW2 skiers is handled by the IPC Alpine Skiing Technical Committee and IPC Nordic Skiing Technical Committee. National sport federations handle classification on the lower levels.

In para-Alpine, skiers use one ski and two ski poles while para-Nordic skiers use two skis and two ski poles. Other equipment may be used such as outriggers. Specific skiing and training techniques have been developed for this LW2 skiers that address their disability type and equipment use. A factoring system is used in both para-Alpine and para-Nordic to allow different classes to compete against each other when there are too few individual competitors in one class in a competition. These factors may change from ski season to ski season.

This classification has been included in a number of medal events at major competitions since the 1980s. It was sometimes later grouped with other classes for medal events. Skiers in this sport class include Australians Michael Milton, Toby Kane and Cameron Rahles Rahbula, and American Allison Jones.

This is a standing classification used in para-Alpine skiing and para-Nordic skiing, where LW stands for Locomotor Winter. It is for people with a severe disability in a lower limb, which may be a result of an amputation, arthrodesis in the leg and hip, or a disease like polio. Competitors in this class would score 20 or less on a strength test for one leg. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) explicitly defined this classification for para-Alpine skiing as "Competitors with severe disabilities in one lower limb ... Typical disability profile of the class is single above-knee amputation." For para-Nordic skiing, the IPC defines this class as "those with impairment in one entire lower limb (involving pelvis structures distal)." In 2002, the Australian Paralympic Committee described this classification for para-Alpine as a standing skiing classification with "One ski, two poles, disability in one leg above the knee."Cross Country Canada defined this classification for para-Nordic skiing as "Impairment in one entire lower limb (leg) involving pelvis and structures distal" in 2012.

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