Twenty-five countries will be represented on the Swiss slopes for what will be the second leg of the campaign following the curtain-raiser in Landgraaf in The Netherlands last month.

It has been a frustrating period for skiers as the events in Pyha in Finland and Pitztal in Austria were both called off due to poor weather.

A number of Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic champions will be among the 101-strong field competing in St Moritz.

This includes home favourite Theo Gmur, who won a hat-trick of standing titles at the Games in South Korea in the downhill, super-G and giant slalom.

It will be the first races of the season for the man named as Switzerland's Para-athlete of the year.

New Zealander Adam Hall, the Paralympic champion in standing slalom, will also compete alongside Italy's Giacomo Bertagnolli, the Pyeongchang winner in the visually impaired slalom and giant slalom. 

In women's events, Germany's seven-time Paralympic champion Anna Schaffelhuber will be among those in action.

She won sitting golds in downhill and super-G in Pyeongchang, and will be joined in St Moritz by team-mate Anna-Lena Forster, the Paralympic champion in the sitting slalom and super combined events.

"I'm looking forward to the first races, that's a first hint," said Forster, who will be making her season debut. 

"Unfortunately, the preparation was a bit difficult, the weather has often bugged us, but that was not different for the other nations.

"Now I am really looking forward to starting again."

France's Marie Bochet, who won standing titles in downhill, super-G, giant slalom and slalom in Pyeongchang, and is an eight-time Paralympic champion in all, will also compete alongside Britain's visually impaired slalom winner Menna Fitzpatrick.

Momoka Muraoka of Japan, the Paralympic champion in sitting giant slalom, is another to make the start list. 

The Europa Cup is the second-tier World Para Alpine Skiing circuit, below the World Cup.

Action in St Moritz will conclude on Saturday (December 15).