Falls Creek Community Celebrates Liana France Racing at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games

From the slopes of Falls Creek to the world stage, 16 year old para alpine skier Liana France is representing Australia at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, inspiring the High Country community that has supported her journey from the very beginning.

The whole Falls Creek community is proud to celebrate local para alpine skier Liana France as she competes at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, marking an extraordinary milestone for the young High Country athlete.

Originally from Beechworth, Victoria, Liana has spent years training on the slopes of Falls Creek as part of her development as a competitive alpine skier. The resort’s terrain and strong racing culture have played an important role in shaping her journey to international competition.

Falls Creek is also an ideal location for para alpine training and is home to the Disabled Wintersport Australia (DWA) Hub, which opened ahead of the 2023 snow season. The purpose built facility supports adaptive snow sports athletes and programs, further strengthening Falls Creek’s reputation as a leading destination for inclusive alpine sport.

At just 16 years old, Liana is making her Paralympic debut and is the youngest female athlete on the 2026 Australian Winter Paralympic Team.

Her love for skiing began early after watching a children’s television episode featuring a ski instructor. Inspired, she asked her parents to take her to the snow for her birthday when she was just two years old. From those first turns, Liana quickly fell in love with the sport, progressing through ski school and junior programs before joining race club by the age of nine.

Liana will compete in two standing events at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games:

• Women’s Giant Slalom Standing, 12 March 2026

• Women’s Slalom Standing, 14 March 2026

Competing in the LW6/8 2 standing classification, Liana races with one pole and a prosthetic on her left arm following a vehicle accident in 2023.

Well known throughout the High Country sporting community and part of the extended Beechworth Fire Brigade family, Liana’s journey has been proudly supported by communities across regional Victoria.

Falls Creek congratulates Liana on reaching the Paralympic stage and wishes her the very best as she represents Australia in Milano Cortina. From the slopes of Falls Creek to the Paralympic stage, the entire community will be cheering her on.