A SNOWBOARDER from Plymouth has been listed as ‘one to watch’ in 2015-16 by the International Paralympic Committee in the run-up to the new season.

Ben Moore, 29, has been included among a list of 16 international para-athletes by the IPC, have made his way almost to the very top of the sport.

Moore is one of three listed under the snowboard-upper limb (SB-UL) category, as he is without the use of his left arm due to a motorbike accident a decade ago.

He took up snowboarding in 2010-11, training at a ski school in Canada, and has become one of the world’s top exponents in the sport.

He exploded on to the scene in the 2014-15 season, winning the Snowboard World Cup in the SB-UL.

Last season, at the 2015 IPC Snowboard World Championships in La Molina, Spain, he won silver in banked slalom and bronze in snowboard-cross.

Winter Paralympics

His progress makes him a firm favourite to achieve his goal of reaching the 2018 Winter Paralympics, which is due to be held in Pyeong-chang, South Korea.

But his attention will be focused on this season coming, which starts next week with an event in Landgraaf, Netherlands.

Representing Team GB, Moore is due to line up in the season-opening Europa Cup.

There will also be a series of eight World Cups spanning November to March, as well as North America and Asia Cups.

The World Cup finals in snowboard-cross and banked slalom are held in Trentino, Italy, from March 15-18.

In the close season, Ben has been busy as an ambassador for Get Kids Going! – a charity which supports children with disabilities in sport – and has even rubbed shoulders with Pippa Middleton at events.

His mum Mandy said: “He’s got the full support from his family and friends and he’s just a true inspiration to us all.

“He’s so determined and faces each challenge that comes his way.”