After nearly two years, the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team is ready to hit the gates with a vengeance. 

In March 2020, while abroad in Norway for competition, the world suddenly shut down and the Para-Alpine team has not seen World Cup races since then. In the interim, the athletes worked harder than ever before to ensure that once racing was possible again, their dominance would not waiver.

Team veterans Kurt Oatway and Alexis Guimond have high expectations of both themselves and from the team. Acting as mentors to the younger athletes, they have trained hard during their time out of competition and are ready to lead the group through the World Cup season and onto podiums as they chase their Paralympic dreams

Mac Marcoux has been forced to continue his commitment to rehabilitating a back injury after a setback earlier this fall, and has now returned to snow for training. Mac’s guide Tristan Rodgers has been continuing to train alongside mac through his rehabilitation, fostering their critical relationship so no stone is left unturned this season. After dominating the IPC World Cup Circuit in 19-20 with eight gold medals including his 50th World Cup Podium, and landing on the podium twice in PyeongChang in 2018, this duo will be a team to watch for this season. 

Mollie Jepsen is preparing to defend her four Paralympic medals from PyeongChang in what was an outstanding showing for the then-18-year-old. She is feeling healthy and strong, ready to race back to the podium this year.

Teammate Frédérique Turgeon is also excited about returning to international competition and building to the 2022 Games. An ambassador for the new partnership between the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Lululemon, her focus has been on returning to her 2018-2019 competition form through strong summer training and dedication. 

Alana Ramsay has been battling back after a crash at the World Championships in 2019 but through her tenacity and training she is feeling stronger than ever on the hill and ready to take on the competition.

Two rookies looking to make their mark this year are Brian Rowland and Logan Leech. Brian was in Norway poised to make his World Cup debut before competition was cancelled and the season cut short. With an excellent training partner in Kurt, expectations are high for him as he prepares once again to kick out of the World Cup gates for the first time this year.

Another overdue debut will take place this season with Micheala Gosselin hitting the World Cup circuit for the first time alongside fellow rookie Brian, Logan and Julien. She is hungry for her chance to shine on the international stage, and has been training and competing against her teammates for two years to prepare.

Despite competitions around the world being cancelled, this may have been a positive for Micheala and Logan. Scheduled to ski with their local clubs while the rest of the team competed in Europe, Logan alongside his guide Julien Petit and Michaela, were instead able to train with the team for 70-80 additional days, giving the duo some valuable time with them on snow. 

The biggest unknown for all members of the team is the caliber of competition that they will be facing this World Cup season. The absence of competition has pushed the team harder than ever before to be prepared for any challenge they may face from competitor or terrain. 

One wild card to keep an eye on is newcomer Katie Combaluzer. After missing an opportunity to qualify for the team in 2020 due to a lack of races, she has been invited to ski with the team repeatedly over the last two years. After meeting World Cup qualification criteria in competition in Panorama, she will be making her World Cup debut with Micheala, Brian, Logan and Julien this year and is fighting hard to show the world what she’s capable of.

What’s guaranteed is a season full of excitement and blistering speeds, technical prowess and sharp turns. Stay tuned to ACA channels to follow the journeys of this incredible team!

For more information or media inquiries please contact: 

Kylie Robertson I Manager of Communications  
krobertson@alpinecanada.org I 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. In 2020/21, Alpine Canada celebrated 100 years of rich tradition in competitive skiing in Canada.