Calgary, Alta. (January 12, 2017) – In Innerkrems (AUT) the Canadian Para-Alpine Team kicked off the New Year with a bang, capturing three first-place finishes, a second-place and a third-place in two downhill races today. 

Due to forecasted snow in the coming days, the athletes ran two downhill races today. The first race from a lower start due to high winds in the morning, and the second race from the original start. 

Downhill #1

It was a golden day for Sault Ste. Marie’s Mac Marcoux and his guide, Jack Leitch who captured gold in the first downhill race of the season. The 20-year-old won last year’s downhill Crystal Globe and is proving once again he has what it takes to be in the running. 

“Overall it was a great day!” said Marcoux. “With a wind delay and lower start for the first run, we were challenged with wind gusts and tight racing. We were fortunate enough to squeeze out our first downhill win of the season!”

Calgary’s Kurt Oatway also found the podium today, his first of the season, finishing with a third-place result. Oatway also captured the 2016 downhill Crystal Globe. 

“Two downhills in one day is always a bit much, especially with constantly changing weather,” said Oatway. “My two runs were far from perfect which leaves me ready for more with the upcoming downhills. Ending the day on the podium feels great!” 

In the standing category, Braydon Luscombe had the best Canadian finish with a sixth-place result, in a very tight men’s field. 

The women’s race faced high winds, and Calgary’s Alana Ramsay narrowly missed out on a podium finish, ending the first race with a fourth-place result. Erin Latimer, who scored her first World Cup podiums before the holiday season, ended the first downhill race of the New Year in sixth-place. 

Women’s Standing

4 – Alana Ramsay

6 – Erin Latimer

Men’s Visually Impaired 

1 – Mac Marcoux (guide Jack Leitch)

Men’s Sitting

3 - Kurt Oatway

Men’s Standing

6 – Braydon Luscombe

10 – Alexis Guimond

13 – Kirk Schornstein

Downhill #2

Mac Marcoux and his guide, Jack Leitch went two for two today, also winning the second downhill race demonstrating consistency and stamina by putting together two solid runs. 

“With a full length second course, we were able to crank up the intensity,” said Marcoux. “We were able to lay down the fastest overall run of the day. We are really happy and confident with our skiing.”

Veteran Kurt Oatway bettered his second downhill run of the day, picking up a second-place finish to make it two podium finishes in as many races. Oatway was just 0.57 seconds off the winning pace in the second race of the day.

Alana Ramsay found redemption in the second race today, tweaking her run to finish in first-place. Ramsay continues to add great results to her growing list of accomplishments after landing on the podium for the first time in her career last season.

“Today was a great day!” said Ramsay. “The first run was a little unlucky with wind coming in and out but that lit a fire inside and with the start moving back up to the top, I knew it was go-time. I was able to fire out a great run. There’s lots of racing to come over the next few weeks and I feel I’m on a great track leading into World Championships in Tarvisio.” 

Narrowly missing the podium was first-year national team athlete, Alexis Guimond from Gatineau, Quebec. After making some adjustments from the first downhill run, Guimond moved from 10th-place to fourth-place, an impressive feat for the rookie athlete. 

Due to expected weather tomorrow, there will be no races. There will be two super-G races on Saturday and a super combined on Sunday. 

Women’s Standing

1 – Alana Ramsay

7 – Erin Latimer

Men’s Visually Impaired

1 – Mac Marcoux

Men’s Sitting

2 – Kurt Oatway

Men’s Standing

4 – Alexis Guimond

6 – Braydon Luscombe

9 – Kirk Schronstein

ABOUT ALPINE CANADA

Alpine Canada is the national governing body for alpine, para-alpine and ski cross racing in Canada. With the support of valued corporate partners along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium and the Canadian Olympic Committee, Alpine Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic, world championship and World Cup medallists to stimulate visibility, inspiration and growth in the ski community.