Andorran Paralympian Roger Puig DNFs Slalom Amid Snow Chaos at Milan-Cortina 2026
Roger Puig ended Andorra's record Winter Paralympics with a did-not-finish in slalom due to balance issues on a snow-battered course, capping a.
Key Points
- Puig DNFed slalom after missing gate due to shaky skis on bumpy, snow-affected piste.
- Heavy snow (20+ cm) delayed event; piste cleared with turbines, retracs, salt.
- Career-best 5th in downhill topped Andorra's prior record; also 11th super-G, 15th giant slalom.
- Puig proud of third Paralympics, eyes future podiums, promotes adaptive sports.
Andorran Paralympic skier Roger Puig ended his Milan-Cortina 2026 campaign with a did-not-finish in the slalom in Cortina d'Ampezzo, after balance issues on a course battered by heavy, wet snow.
The race faced major disruptions from more than 20 centimetres of fresh, humid snow that blocked access roads and stranded vehicles. Workers cleared the piste using small turbines, retrac machines, grooming equipment and salt, while spectator stands also needed full removal. After a one-hour delay, the event started on a bumpy, irregular surface that challenged competitors' stability.
Puig struggled with footing during his run. After entering the second wall, he missed an inside gate and veered off course, leading to elimination. "I didn't get the rhythm right; my skis were shaking a lot, and in the end I had a DNF," he said. "The piste was far from easy." He credited organisers with strong efforts to run the event despite the conditions.
This was Puig's fifth and final discipline, closing out Andorra's record Winter Paralympics performance. Highlights included fifth place in downhill—securing a diploma and the nation's best-ever result, topping Paquita Ramírez's from Turin 2006—11th in super-G, failure to complete the super-G leg of the combined, and 15th in giant slalom on Friday.
The giant slalom brought its own chaos: the skier ahead crashed, forcing Puig to repeat his first run after a stoppage. A chairlift failure then led to a long wait and quad bike transfer to the start, causing fatigue and distraction. He placed 16th provisionally after the redo, then climbed to 15th in the second run, meeting team targets.
Reflecting post-Games from Venice airport, Puig expressed mixed emotions but overall pride. "I'm a bit sad, but with fifth in downhill, I'm very happy," he said. "I hoped for another diploma, but I rate these Games highly." He described the season as a career turning point, especially in speed events that suit his disability by rewarding patience over quick reactions. Puig, in his third Paralympics, handled pressure with newfound calm and looks ahead to podiums in future Games while encouraging others with disabilities to take up sport.
Official slalom results are not yet available.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources:
- Altaveu•
Uns Jocs Paralímpics per a la història
- Diari d'Andorra•
Roger Puig tanca els Jocs sense acabar l’eslàlom
- Bon Dia•
Els Jocs es tanquen amb un diploma
- Diari d'Andorra•
Puig queda fora de l’eslàlom en el tancament dels Jocs Paralímpics de Cortina
- Altaveu•
Roger Puig no pot completar l'eslàlom en el tancament dels Jocs Paralímpics
- El Periòdic•
Roger Puig posa el punt final als Jocs Paralímpics de Milà-Cortina d’Ampezzo sense poder acabar la prova d’eslàlom
- Diari d'Andorra•
Roger Puig tanca avui els Jocs amb l’eslàlom
- Diari d'Andorra•
Roger Puig, 15è al gegant dels Jocs Paralímpics