Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team closes tech race series in La Molina with six medals

La Molina, ESP (March 16, 2019) – The IPC World Cup technical race series in La Molina, Spain, closes with two more Canadian medals in ladies’ standing slalom.

Mirroring Friday’s podium results, Canada’s Frédérique (Fred) Turgeon (Candiac, Que./Club de ski Bromont) took home the silver in the ladies’ standing category, while teammate Alana Ramsay (Calgary/CADS Alberta) raced to bronze.

Turgeon, who won the World Cup season’s opening slalom races in January, needs one more podium performance in slalom to secure the Crystal Globe as the discipline’s leader for the 2018-19 World Cup season.

“The series in La Molina has been amazing,” said Turgeon, who leaves the Spanish Pyrenees with four silver medals – two in giant slalom, two in slalom – to add to her two gold World Cup medals in slalom won in January. “I am super excited about that. I really can’t wait until (the races in) Morzine. I’m aiming for the slalom Crystal Globe, so that’s still on my mind, but I’m still going in with the same mentality for these final (World Cup) races.”

Saturday marked Ramsay’s second World Cup bronze medal in as many days, and third medal this season; she won silver in giant slalom at the IPC World Para-Alpine Championships in February.

“I’m happy with how everything went,” said Ramsay, who also finished just off the podium in fourth in the week’s first two giant slalom races at La Molina. “I’m looking forward to the races ahead (as we give it our) final push of the season.”

Mel Pemble (Victoria, B.C./B.C. Adaptive Snowsports) was sixth in the ladies’ standing category; the 18-year-old NextGen racer had three sixth-place finishes and two eighth-place results in the five days of racing in Spain this week.

Competing in the men’s standing category, NextGen athlete Alex Cairns (Squamish, B.C./B.C. Adaptive Snowsports) raced to 11th; his best result at La Molina came on Friday when he finished just shy of the podium, landing in fourth in the slalom.

Para-alpine World Cup action shifts to Morzine, France, this week for a team event and the season’s two final slalom races, March 19-21. All races can be streamed live at the Canadian Paralympic Team’s Facebook page.

Audi 2019 Canadian Ski Racing Awards presented by Helly Hansen

From now until April 15, Alpine Canada and partners Audi Canada and Helly Hansen are accepting nominations and votes to determine the winners of the Audi 2019 Canadian Ski Racing Awards presented by Helly Hansen. Media, fans, and members of the Canadian ski community are invited to help celebrate the nation’s vibrant ski racing community by recognizing the athletes, coaches, volunteers, and ski resorts that have made a positive mark this season. Visit AlpineCanada.org/Awards for more details.

Celebrate today’s podium results by joining the Medallists’ Circle

For the 2018-19 ski racing season, Alpine Canada is inviting ski fans to join the Medallists’ Circle. Donors are invited to commit a pledge for each podium performance by an Alpine Canada athlete this season at World Cup and World Championship events. All funds raised through the Medallists’ Circle will provide Canada’s alpine, para-alpine, and ski cross athletes with the resources needed to reach for the podium. For further information, please visit AlpineCanada.org.