Calgary, Alta. (January 25, 2017) – The World Para-Alpine Skiing Championships kicked off today in Tarvisio (ITA) to the tune of three medal finishes from the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team, including a gold for Sault Ste. Marie’s Mac Marcoux! Also stepping onto the podium was Kirk Schornstein, for his first ever World Championship medal, finishing with a silver.

Calgary’s Alana Ramsay represented the Canadian women on the podium with a third-place finish and her first ever World Championship medal. This is Ramsay’s best ever downhill finish, adding to her best season on the World Cup tour.  After two days of downhill training, Ramsay found confidence on race day to push her limits and close the gap in the results. 

Marcoux started out the 2016-17 season with a new guide, Jack Leitch from Banff Alpine Racers, and has been collecting podiums all season long, showing the new partnership is a success. Today’s Downhill World Championship title is Marcoux’s second title in as many Championship events.  Marcoux won the downhill event at home soil in 2015 at the IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in Panorama, BC. 

“Today was a great day for Jack and I,” said Marcoux. “A gold at World Championships was the top of our goals for the season. I can’t describe the amount of excitement from today’s win. It was a major day for Jack and I, helping build our confidence going into the rest of the races in Tarvisio. A huge congrats to Kirk for his first podium on the world stage and also to Alana on her bronze. We’re stoked for the super-G tomorrow!"

Schornstein was full of confidence after yesterday’s second training run, finally feeling the speed events come together for him. It paid off today in a big way, as he captured his first medal on the international stage, and at World Championships. 

“I am happy with my day after some hard training runs in the past few days,” said Ramsay. “I am happy that I was able to put down a good run today! I will be bringing that motivation into the races yet to come.”

After landing a career-first podium last season, Ramsay is on the up-and-up this season continuing to secure hardware. 

“I was pretty nervous all day today to be honest,” said Schornstein. “But in the start I managed to stay calm, stick to my plan and ski. I’ve been waiting a very long time for this and I’m glad I found what I need to get on the podium!” 

Toronto’s Erin Latimer finished in sixth-place, 17-year-old Alexis Guimond finished in ninth-place, with teammate Braydon Luscombe just behind him in 10th-place.

Tomorrow the team continues with speed and will race a super-G, hunting down more World Championship medals and titles. 

Men’s Standing

2 – Kirk Schornstein

9 – Alexis Guimond

10 - Braydon Luscombe

Men’s Visually Impaired

1 –Mac Marcoux

Women’s Standing

3 – Alana Ramsay

6 - Erin Latimer

ABOUT ALPINE CANADA

Alpine Canada is the national governing body for alpine, para-alpine and ski cross racing in Canada. With the support of valued corporate partners along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium and the Canadian Olympic Committee, Alpine Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic, world championship and World Cup medallists to stimulate visibility, inspiration and growth in the ski community.