CALGARY, ALTA. (February 6, 2018) ­-- The Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team will kick out of the start gate in Kimberley, B.C. this week, at the final world cup races prior to the start of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.

The speed event, February 9-11 at Kimberley Alpine Resort, is the last opportunity for athletes to qualify to represent Canada at the Games. The race series will kick off with downhill on February 9, followed by two days of super-G on February 10-11.

This season’s World Para-Alpine Skiing circuit has so far been plagued by bad weather and cancellations; as a result, this weekend will be the first chance of the season for athletes to lay down results in a speed event.

“Being so close to Games time, these races are exciting, for sure,” said 2014 Paralympic gold and bronze medallist Mac Marcoux (Sault Ste-Marie, Ont). “We were supposed to race downhill and super-G in Tignes [France] a few weeks ago, but it was cancelled due to too much snow. So I think we’re all pretty ready to race speed and put down some solid runs before we head to South Korea.”

Marcoux and guide Jack Leitch (Calgary, Alta.) will be looking to build on their success in technical events so far this year – the duo earned three podiums in slalom and giant slalom earlier in the season.

Also on the hunt for the men’s podium in Kimberley are Alexis Guimond (Gatineau, Que.), Braydon Luscombe (Duncan, B.C.), Kurt Oatway (Calgary, Alta.), Kirk Schornstein (Spruce Grove, Alta.) and development team athlete Alex Cairns (Squamish, B.C.). Oatway and Guimond both battled to third-place podiums in giant slalom while racing in Europe this season.

Alana Ramsay (Calgary, Alta.) and Erin Latimer (Toronto, Ont.) lead the charge for the women’s team, alongside three up-and-coming development athletes, Mel Pemble (Victoria, B.C.), Mollie Jepsen (Vancouver, B.C.), and Frederique Turgeon (Candiac, Que.). Ramsay earned two third-place finishes in giant slalom this past December.

Alpine Canada Alpin will announce on February 16 which athletes will be nominated to the Canadian Paralympic Team heading to PyeongChang to compete next month. The 2018 Paralympic Winter Games are March 8-18.

BE THERE
Bring your cowbells and come out to cheer on the Canadians! It’s free to watch. For venue information, including directions, visit: skikimberley.com. For a detailed schedule of events, visit paralympic.org

HOW TO WATCH (times in MST)
For Canadians who can’t be there in person, the races will be live-streamed on playo.tv

Friday, February 9
9:30 a.m. – Women’s and Men’s Downhill
1:30 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Downhill

Saturday, February 10
11 a.m. – Women’s and Men’s Super-G

Sunday, February 11
11 a.m. – Women’s and Men’s Super-G
 

CANADIANS RACING
Men:
Alexis Guimond (Gatineau, Que.)
Braydon Luscombe (Duncan, B.C.)
Mac Marcoux (Sault Ste-Marie, Ont.) and guide Jack Leitch (Calgary, Alta)
Kurt Oatway (Calgary, Alta.)
Kirk Schornstein (Spruce Grove, Alta.)
Alex Cairns (Squamish, B.C.)

Women:
Erin Latimer (Toronto, Ont.)
Alana Ramsay (Calgary, Alta.)
Mollie Jepsen (Vancouver, B.C.)
Mel Pemble (Victoria, B.C.)
Frederique Turgeon (Candiac, Que.)

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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.