By Paul Osborne

Mike Shea has secured his second gold medal in as many days ©Getty ImagsMike Shea of the United States has made it two in two at the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) Alpine Skiing two-day event in Landgraaf, The Netherlands, securing gold in the season opening Para-snowboarding World Cup.

After beating team-mate and Paralympic champion Evan Strong to victory in yesterday's Europa Cup, the Sochi 2014 silver medallist doubled his gold medal tally after posting an impressive time of 1min 5.78sec in the men's SB-LL2 category.

New Zealand's Carl Murphy improved a place from yesterday's competition as he moved up to second to sandwich the two American riders.

Strong's time of 1:10.35 was just 0.10 behind his New Zealand counterpart in an agonisingly close competition.

The win is a welcome confidence boost for Sochi 2014 silver medallist Shea, as banked slalom will be included for the first time at the 2015 IPC Para Snowboard World Championships in La Molina, Spain, from February 23 until 28.

"It went better than yesterday," said Shea.

"I think the course was lined up better and it all came together.

"I'm happy to win this World Cup.

"More than anything, it gives a lot of confidence for the rest of the season and I think that is really important."

There also double delight for Dutch Paralympic champion Bibian Mentel-Spee as she picked up her second win of the week in the women's SB-LL2 event.

Her victory today saw her top Australia's Joany Badenhorst, third yesterday, and Australian protégé Lisa Bunschoten, who just missed the podium in yesterday's Europa Cup.

Mentel-Spee's win was again a dominant one as she finished her runs with a total time of 1:14.09, 13 seconds clear of Badenhorst.

"Yesterday I made a deal with Lisa that she would be on the podium with me," said Mentel-Spee.

"Because yesterday she came fourth and she is a very good snowboarder, so I knew she could do it.

"It is great that it worked out for her today."

Bibian Mentel-Spee also made it two for two at the two-day event in The Netherlands as she won the women's SB-LL2 race ©Getty ImagesBibian Mentel-Spee also made it two for two at the two-day event in The Netherlands as she won the women's SB-LL2 race ©Getty Images



Sochi 2014 silver medallist Cecile Hernandez-Cervellon completed the hat-trick of back-to-back golds as she continued her 100 per cent record in the women's SB-LL1 race.

A time of 1:29.17 for the French rider saw her well clear of the rest of the field as the US duo of Brenna Huckaby and Nicole Roundy once again finished second and third with times of 1:45.26 and 1:51.13 respectively.

The battle for gold in the men's SB-LL1 race was won by America's Mike Schultz as he reversed the result from yesterday to best The Netherland's Chris Vos by a little over a second.

France's Patrice Barattero completed the podium in third.

The men's upper-limb impairment competition was unbearable tight as Austrian world number three Patrick Mayrhofer squeezed into first with a time of 1:16.98, just 0.10 quicker than Great Britain's Ben Moore.

The result is a two place improvement for Mayrhofer, while Moore collects his second silver in as many days.

Yesterday's gold medallist Manuel Pozzerle secured the brponze, despite being the only rider to finish a run in under 38 seconds.

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