Calgary, Alta. (March 30, 2018) – Mammoth Mountain, USA was the host for the 2018 Sport Chek National Para-Alpine Championships, bringing fantastic weather and race conditions for all competitors, coaches and volunteers who descended upon this iconic mountain resort.  It was Alana Ramsay (Calgary, Alta.) who swept the podium across all three National Championship races in the women’s standing category, dominating the final events of the season.

The Para-Alpine National Championships are held in conjunction with the U.S. Paralympic team’s National Championships to ensure a high quality field with maximum participation. “If we try and host individual events unfortunately the field sizes end up being very small,” said Matt Hallat, Athletic Director, Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team. “Nationals mean the end of the season and a time to ski with a little less pressure and enjoy our time with the team and other athletes/coaches we don’t see throughout the season. For the NextGen and Provincial athletes, it’s the best opportunity to score good points and test themselves against the National team(s).”

After five incredible years with the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team, 21 year-old Erin Latimer (Toronto, Ont.) competed in her final para-alpine races, announcing her retirement at Mammoth Mountain.  “It was a great series and I had a lot of fun,” reported Latimer post super-G race. “Although I just missed the podium in the Canadian Championships, it was great to finish off with a podium in the US Nationals super-G.” Latimer will now shift gears and focus on her pending studies in social sciences at the University of Toronto.

 

Slalom Results – Tuesday, March 27th

15 year-old Sarah Gillies (Orangeville, Ont.) showed the field some fantastic skiing in the standing category, landing on the podium with a third-place finish.  Canadian para-alpine leader, Alana Ramsay, was the Canadian Champion in the standing category, a solid +3:08 seconds ahead of the next racer.

“I’m very happy with my performance and it’s been a lot of fun to test my skiing against the Canadian and US teams,” said young up and comer Gillies of her slalom race. “I’m looking forward to the rest of the week’s races.” From the top of the podium, Ramsay reported, “I’m enjoying skiing down here in Mammoth post Paralympic Games.  The weather is great and it’s an awesome way to end the season.”

On the men’s side, it was Kirk Schornstein (Spruce Grove, Alta.) who claimed the top spot and title of Canadian Champion in the men’s standing category, +1.54 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. “I felt pretty good in the last slalom race of the year,” reported Schornstein post race. “It’s awesome to end on a good note.”  Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team member, Braydon Luscombe (Duncan, B.C.) finished the slalom in third.

 

Giant Slalom Results – Thursday, March 29th

Back on the top of the podium was Ramsay, winning the giant slalom by +3.62 seconds over NextGen athlete and second-place finisher, Mollie Jepsen (Vancouver, B.C.). On the men’s side, it was Gatineau, Quebec’s rising star, Alexis Guimond who was crowned Canadian Champion in the men’s standing category, winning the race by +3.52 seconds. In the men’s sitting category, Kurt Oatway (Calgary, Alta.) finished in second-place, +2.23 seconds off the pace.

 

Super-G Results – Friday, March 30th

Capping off her three-peat Canadian Championship victories, Ramsay again raced to the top of the podium, winning the super-G in the ladies standing category by +3.45 seconds.  NextGen athlete and four-time 2018 Paralympic medallist, Mollie Jepsen, rounded out the podium for the Canadians finishing in third-place.

“What a fun end to the season with some speed races and another Canadian Championship title,” reported Ramsay from the finish area post race. “With these races now done, I’m looking forward to some rest!” Also excited for the end of the season, Jepsen stated, “I just went out and enjoyed the skiing this week.  I have been enjoying my time with the National team in a lower stress environment.”

With his second Canadian Champion title in 2018, Alexis Guimond was the victor in the men’s standing category, winning the super-G by +1.97 seconds.  Teammate Braydon Luscombe joined Guimond on the podium, finishing the race with a third-place result. Narrowly missing the title of Canadian Champion was Kurt Oatway in the sitting category, just +0.17 seconds from first-place.

“Great racing today,” reported Luscombe post race. “It’s always nice to ski race in a lower stress environment and I’m happy with my results.”

From the top of the podium, Guimond stated, “I felt good today and wasn’t stressed as I tried to ski the best I could. I have really enjoyed my time on the mountain this week.”

Oatway, the 2018 super-G gold medallist in PyeongChang reported post event, “The races were great and it was a nice way to finish the season with warm weather and good results.”

The 2018 Canadian Para-Alpine National Championships closes off an incredibly successful 2017-18 para-alpine season.  Athletes will now head home for some much deserved rest before they switch gears and focus on the 2018-19 competition season. Congratulations to all para-alpine athletes, coaches and staff who represented Canada on the world-stage, bringing home countless medals, titles and championships!

Canadian Ladies' Slalom Results – Standing

1 – Alana Ramsay

3 – Sarah Gillies

5 – Mollie Jepsen

6 – Mel Pemble

7 – Erin Latimer

Canadian Men’s Slalom Results – Standing

1 – Kirk Schornstein

3 – Braydon Luscombe

Canadian Men’s Slalom Results – Sitting

3 – Alex Cairns

 

Canadian Ladies' Giant Slalom Results – Standing

1 – Alana Ramsay

2 – Mollie Jepsen

4 – Sarah Gillies

5 – Mel Pemble

6 – Erin Latimer

9 – Alexandra Marta

Canadian Men’s Giant Slalom Results – Standing

1 – Alexis Guimond

4 – Kirk Schornstein

Canadian Men’s Giant Slalom Results – Sitting

2 – Kurt Oatway

5 – Alex Cairns 

 

Canadian Ladies' Super-G Results – Standing

1 – Alana Ramsay

3 – Mollie Jepsen

4 – Erin Latimer

5 – Mel Pemble

7 – Alexandra Marta

Canadian Men’s Super-G Results – Standing

1 – Alexis Guimond

3 – Braydon Luscombe 

6 – Kirk Schornstein

Canadian Men’s Super-G Results – Sitting

2 – Kurt Oatway

 

Full results here.

 

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