Calgary, Alberta. (February 11, 2023) — The strong week of speed racing continued for Canadians in Saalbach-Hinterglemm on Saturday, with two Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team athletes claiming hardware on the Austrian slopes.

After back-to-back fourth-place finishes, Alexis Guimond (Gatineau, QC) skied to the bronze medal in the men’s standing super-G, while Kurt Oatway (Calgary, AB) claimed the same finish in the men’s sitting race.

Guimond finished with a time of 1:14.86, while Oatway clocked in at 1:16.34.

“I’m happy with my approach today. I just wanted to go out there and make the most out of this race series. After a couple of wooden spoons, I wanted to close the speed series with intention and some hardware,” Guimond said post-race. “I put down a solid run with some decent skiing. It was a solid effort. Happy to be back on the podium.”

The conditions were near perfect for the fourth day of racing and second day of super-G, with the snow conditions holding up through the races. At the same time, blue skies treated athletes to an undeniably perfect day of visibility.

For Oatway, finishing the race series with a podium is nearly a dream after coming back from two years of COVID-impacted ski seasons and battling an illness coming into the Austrian races. In the opening downhill, he finished fourth after taking a bobble on the final jump.

Midway through this season, the 38-year-old and 2018 Paralympic super-G champion also switched his sitski.

“This race series was long and fraught with many troubles,” Oatway said. “Coming back from two years of COVID and a season ending injury last year along with switching sit skis hasn't been easy, and while hitting the podium today felt good, there is a lot of room for improvement not only this year but in the seasons to come.”

Meanwhile, in the women’s standing super-G, Frédérique Turgeon did not finish her run.

With the Saalbach-Hinterglemm speed series done, the Canadian team looks towards the upcoming slalom races in Kitzbuehel, AUT, on Feb. 28/29 and their next speed event in Sella Nevea, Italy, from March 9-12.

The FIS Para-Alpine World Cup wraps up with slalom and GS races in Cortina, Italy, from March 13-17.

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Mark Halliday | media@alpinecanada.org | (+1) 403-777-3204

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.