Calgary, Alta. (January 19, 2023) — Alpine Canada officially announced today the four athletes selected to represent Canada at the FIS Para Alpine World Ski Championships starting this week in Espot, Spain. Coming off a third-place tie with six medals at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, this world championship team is expected to lay the foundation for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.

“Congratulations to the athletes named to the team,” said Therese Brisson, President and CEO of Alpine Canada. “It’s important to begin building momentum at the start of a Paralympic quadrennial. Cortina 2026 will be here before we know it and every competition, especially a world championship, is a key step in the process of being at our best come Cortina."

“We are in a rebuild from the success in Beijing and will have a small team of four athletes competing at these world championships,” said Will Marshall, Head Coach of Canada’s Para Alpine Ski Team. who is in his first season in the role. “The team has been training in Panorama, BC where the weather was perfect, and we had some great training days. The conditions here in Spain look good with lots of snow in the forecast. The team wants to start strong in the speed events over the first few days and to use that momentum to fuel performances right through these world championships.”

World Championships Team:

Alexis Guimond, Gatineau (QC), Mont Tremblant Ski Club, DOB: 1999-05-11, fourth world championships.

• Best world championship result: Bronze, Tarvisio, Italy, 2017.
• Outlook: Looking to continue the momentum from strong performances in December, including a third place at the World Cup race at St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Brian Rowland, Merrickville (ON), Calabogie Peaks Ski Club, DOB: 1986-03-14, second world championships.

• Best world championship result: 12th, Lillehammer, Norway, 2022
• Outlook: The course should suit Brian’s racing style, battling to get inside the top 5

Frédérique Turgeon, Candiac (QC), Bromont Ski Club, DOB: 1999-03-25, third world championships.

• Best world championship result: Silver, Kranjska Gora, Slovakia, 2019
• Outlook: Chasing the podium in super-G, slalom, and possibly downhill

Kurt Oatway, Calgary (AB), Regina Alpine Race Team, DOB: 1984-02-23, fifth world championships.

• Best world championship result: Silver x 2, Kranjska Gora, Slovakia, 2019
• Outlook: Returning from an injury at last year’s world championships. With successful preparation for this season behind him, competing at these world championships is a highlight.

Four athletes, Katie Combaluzier (Toronto, ON – medical student residency), Mac Marcoux (Sault-St-Marie, ON – injury), Micheala Gosselin (Collingwood, ON – injury) and Mollie Jepsen (West Vancouver, BC – injury/studies) are not competing this season but they are in the team’s plans going forward.

The FIS Para Alpine World Ski Championships runs January 21st to 29th and is scheduled to start with men and women racing downhill on Saturday. To see the full World Championships schedule and results please click here. Fans can watch the racing on the FIS Alpine YouTube channel (link here).

Follow Canada’s Ski Team this season on Alpine Canada’s website, across our social media accounts and subscribe to our newsletter.

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For more information or media inquiries please contact:

Mark Halliday
Alpine Canada
403 777 3204
media@alpinecanada.org

About Alpine Canada

Alpine Canada is the governing body for alpine, para-alpine, and ski cross racing in Canada, as well as for Canadian ski coaches, providing education, certification, insurance, and compliance with the coaching code of conduct. With the support of valued corporate partners and donors, along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, the Canadian Olympic Committee, and the Coaching Association of Canada, Alpine Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic, World Championship, and World Cup athletes to stimulate visibility, inspiration, and growth in the ski community.