From the Snowies to success: Paralympians at their prime en route to Beijing 2022

With one week until the 2022 Winter Paralympic opening ceremony, the Snowy Mountains' finest winter para-athletes are gearing up to win their first Olympic medal.

For dual-Paralympic snowboarder Ben Tudhope success is a whole lot more than a podium finish, despite that being the ultimate prize.

Tudhope is the only snowboarder and youngest para-athlete selected on the team, a familiar accolade for the 22-year-old who competed in his first games at age 14.

«To be able to go and represent my nation again is a real honour for me,» he said.

«The Paralympic Games are one of my favourite things in the world.»

Tudhope is co-captain of the Australian Paralympic Team, alongside bronze medallist Melissa Perrine.

He is on a mission to show-off how much para-snowboarding has progressed since the discipline's debut at Sochi 2014.

«I just can't wait to show the world and show everyone how far para-snowboarding has come and what we can do as adaptive athletes because it's absolutely amazing,» he said.

Tudhope is also on a mission to win his first Olympic medal, after a bumper World Cup season and winning the Crystal Globe as the world's best para-snowboarder.

«I think my preparation going into these Beijing Games are the best I've ever experienced in my career,» he said.

Paralympian alpine skier Sam Tait echoed the same sentiment.

«I'm feeling ready,» he said.

«If I don't get a medal, the top five would be great.»

While the 30-year-old has had his heart set on a podium finish since he debuted at PyeongChang 2018, he has been committed to being the best for a lot longer.

Tait first took up sit-skiing about three months after a motorcycle accident left him paraplegic at age 22.

«It would have been the first day I ever sat in a sit-ski, it just kind of