Val di Fassa, ITA (Feb. 20, 2019) – Canada’s Amelia Smart moved up four spots in the second run to earn her career-best FIS Alpine World Junior Championships result, and lead her team with a seventh-place finish in the ladies’ slalom on Wednesday.

The Panorama Ski Club product was 2.01 seconds off the pace, but less than 1 second off the podium on a tough slalom day that saw the snow hold up well for all racers through both runs, and course-sets that were described by the Canadian contingent as technical but allowing for racers to attack on both runs.

“I wasn’t very happy with my first run. I made a couple mistakes and skied too conservatively,” said Smart following the race. “I re-focused between runs on how I wanted to ski in the second, and just sent it. I executed better than the first run so I’m happy with that.”

Smart was the only Canadian who was able to complete both runs. Toronto’s Ali Nullmeyer (Georgian Peaks Ski Club) was fifth after the first run, but posted a DNF in the second run. Beatrix Lever (Club de courses Mont Cascades) and Justine Clement (Club de ski Stoneham) were unable to finish their first runs.

The full slalom results can be found at FIS-SKI.com.

In the men’s downhill, Vancouver’s Kyle Alexander (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) posted the fastest Canadian time, finishing 16th and only 1.54 seconds off the pace. Jamie Casselman (Team Panorama – Kimberley Alpine Team) was 41st, and Asher Jordan (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 47th.

Canada’s Raphael Lessard (Club de ski Bromont) finished 46th to race to the fastest time posted by a U18 racer on Wednesday. All of the men’s downhill results from Wednesday can be found at FIS-SKI.com.

World Juniors’ racing continues on Thursday with the men’s super-G.