Calgary, AB (January 6, 2020) – The Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team kicks off their World Cup season in Veysonnaz, Switzerland this week, and all the hours spent in the gym and training on snow will finally be put to the test. Ending last season with a total of 24 World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup podiums, the para-alpine team is ready to charge into the 2020 season. 

Team veterans Alana Ramsay, Alexis Guimond, Frédérique Turgeon, and Kurt Oatway are excited to have teammates, Mac Marcoux (guide Tristan Rodgers), Mel Pemble and Mollie Jepsen back, who are all returning to snow after injury. 

Frédérique Turgeon, who is coming off of a career best season is excited to start another World Cup campaign, "I’m looking forward to reaching new levels in my skiing this season. I’ve been working really hard at the gym and I’m really excited to start skiing more with my teammates."

The para-alpine team has two new additions heading into the 2019-20 season. Merrickville, ON’s Brian Rowland joins the team in the men’s sitting category and Orangeville, ON’s Sarah Gillies joins in the women’s standing category.

With a busy season about to kick off, the team will be hunting for podiums all season long, with a focus on World Cup Finals in Åre, Sweden in March. The team hopes to add to their six podium finishes at the 2019 World Para-Alpine Ski Championships. Kurt Oatway finished in second in both the downhill and super-G. Frédérique Turgeon finished in second in slalom and third in Super-G and super-combined, and Alana Ramsay who finished in second in giant-slalom. 

Para-Alpine Athletic Director and former member of the team, Matt Hallat, says the team is excited to race towards the 2021 World Para-Alpine Ski Championships and Beijing 2022. 

“We’re very excited to have nearly everyone back healthy and well prepared for the World Cup season.  We’ve had some great early winter training in Canada and are looking forward to seeing how we stack up.  As the season progresses our focus will be on Hafjell, Norway and Åre, Sweden World Cup stops as they are the next two hosts for the World Championships and will also be our first experiences skiing in Scandinavia.”

Athletic Director: Matt Hallat 
Head Coach: Jean-Sébastien Labrie
Head Coach Next Gen: David White 

Women's Team 

Alana Ramsay
Frédérique Turgeon 
Mel Pemble
Mollie Jepsen
Sarah Gillies 

Men’s Team

Alexis Guimond
Brian Rowland
Kurt Oatway
Mac Marcoux, guide Tristan Rodgers 

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Here is this year’s World Cup Schedule.

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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. In 2020, Alpine Canada will celebrate 100 years of rich tradition in competitive skiing in Canada.

For more information or media inquiries please contact:
Whitney Hunter I Manager of Communications 
whunter@alpinecanada.orgI 403-471-6032