Vision-impaired skiers Bart Bunting and Jessica Gallagher have staked their claims for Paralympic Games selection with outstanding performances on day two of the 2009 Australian Paralympic Alpine Skiing Championships today. 

With national selectors watching closely, the pair delivered formidable Giant Slalom runs in both the morning and afternoon session on Thredbo’s World Cup run, to boost their hopes of representing Australia at next year’s Paralympics.  Born blind, Bunting is guided down the course via voice commands from his guide Nathan Chivers, who skis in front of him.  The pair, who combined to win two gold medals and a silver at the 2002 Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City, have recently returned to competitive Paralympic skiing after a lengthy break and are already shaping as a potential medal chance for Australia in Vancouver next March.  So too is Gallagher, who continues to make amazing progress after making the switch from athletics at the end of last year. Gallagher, 23, skis with the assistance of guide Eric Bikerton.  Steve Graham, Australia’s Paralympic Winter Team head coach, said he has been delighted with the form of the two athletes and is expecting even bigger things in the lead-up to Vancouver.  “Everything that we are working towards seems to be paying off,” Graham said.  “Bart and Jessica are racing with huge intensity and you can see that they don’t want to hold anything back, which is what racing is about.”  But the vision-impaired skiers weren’t the only Australian Paralympic squad members to shine on day two.  Amputee athletes Cameron Rahles-Rahbula, Toby Kane and Mitchell Gourley renewed their rivalry in the Giant Slalom discipline following a enthralling battle on day one.  Again it was the current World Champion in the discipline, Rahles-Rahbula (1:45.17) who just held out Kane (1:45.59) and Gourley (1:46.84) in a result that mirrored yesterday’s final.  Fellow leg amputees Marty Mayberry and Nick Watts also drew praise from Graham, despite finishing outside of the medals.  “The performances across the board have stepped up from yesterday which is very pleasing,” Graham said.  “Everyone has just been so strong, it really has been fantastic to watch the progress of the all guys. Our preparations for Vancouver are certainly on track.”