Calgary, Alta. (December 6, 2018) – The Canadian teams are making their way to Europe this weekend after several races in North America over the last few weeks.

The women’s technical and speed teams find themselves both in St-Moritz but for two different events. The speed team hits the slopes on Saturday for super-G, while the technical team will compete in a fun-filled parallel-slalom race on Sunday.

Super-G standout from last weekend’s race in Lake Louise where she finished in fifth place, Valérie Grenier, 22, is ready and eager to see if she can equal or beat this outstanding career-best result.

Marie-Michèle (Mitch) Gagnon, 29, returned to Lake Louise last weekend to finish in 20thposition after a season-ending knee and shoulder injury had sidelined her for an entire year. Gagnon’s goal in St-Moritz is to continue to improve in the super-G rankings. 

The results for Roni Remme, 22, were stronger in downhill over super-G last weekend in Lake Louise. This is a skier full of promise already in her second year on the World Cup circuit and with an appearance at the 2018 Olympic Games under her belt.

Parallel slalom is a brand new event, that made its debut on the World Cup circuit for the first time a year ago in Courchevel. This race offers a little something different for the spectators. A full field of athletes will ski a qualification run and 32 of the fastest skiers of that run will compete head to head in a dual slalom, side by side, to the finish line. This gives a much better perspective to just how difficult this sport can be, how fast the skiers are attacking the course and how they manage the pressure of skiing at the same time as a competitor beside them.

Representing Canada are Audi Ski Racing Awards Female Athlete of the Year 2018 Erin Mielzynski, 28, Laurence St-Germain, 24,  and Amelia Smart, 20, who are all hoping to compete in this greatly anticipated race. Ronni Remme will also try to qualify for the finals. The starting lists are confirmed the day prior to the race. 

Alpine Canada’s men’s tech team is in Val d’Isère, France, for a giant slalom race on Saturday and a slalom event on Sunday.

Erik Read, 27, posted a strong first giant slalom race with a 19thposition last week in Beaver Creek, and is looking to improve on that result in Val d’Isere. This recent result would indicate that this talented skier has the capacity to put together a solid performance, earn a spot in the second run and establish a solid presence on the circuit this season.

Another tech team veteran, Phil Brown, 27, had a season-best 22nd-place World Cup result last season. This two-time Olympian and Toronto native was using different training methods over the summer in his hometown, both indoors and out, to enhance his competitive edge. Val d’Isere will give Brown the chance to put his training into action. 

Giant slalom four-time consecutive and defending Canadian Champion Trevor Philp, 26, did not finish the first runs in both giant slalom and slalom races in Val d’Isère last season. Competing well in the next two technical races, and profiting from the experience he has gained from the last couple of years will no doubt ensure a stronger finish this weekend. Moving up the rankings and measuring up against the best in the world are this athlete’s short-term goals.

Morgan Megarry, 25, closed out the season with a second-place finish at the 2018 National Championships in giant slalom. A graduate from Vermont University, Megarry is focusing on technical races on the FIS World Cup circuit after picking up multiple top-ten results in multiple disciplines on the Nor-Am Cup circuit last season.

Simon Fournier, who had his first start on the World Cup circuit in Levi at the beginning of the season, will aim, to make it in the second run this time around in the slalom event on Sunday.

“ For the ladies, we are thrilled with Valérie Grenier’s 5th place last week which gives her a better starting position for this upcoming super-G. We are aiming to get all our ladies’ speed team to break into the top 10 in the next few races. The parallel slalom is always fun to watch and we have great fighters among our team with Erin, Laurence, Ronni, and Amelia who will give it a shot. Hopefully they can make it all the way to the podium. As for the men in Val d’Isère, they have been training in Switzerland over the past few days with other teams from different countries. Everyone is helping each other out to get the maximum out of these training days. The lack of snow, watery slopes and difficult conditions in Europe right now bring all teams in the same situation, at the same level, so it’s anyone’s race at this point.” – said Martin Rufener, Head Coach.

Where:  St-Moritz, SUI– Ladies
               Val d’Isère, France - Men

When: 

Saturday, December 8, 2018
Ladies’s super-G in St-Moritz

11:15 am CET / 5:15 am ET

Men’s giant slalom in Val d’Isère

10:00 am CET / 4:00 am ET – 1st run
1:00 pm CET / 7:00 am ET – 2nd run

Sunday, December 9, 2018 

Ladie’s parallel slalom in St-Moritz

1:00 pm CET / 7:00 am ET 

Men’s slalom in Val d’Isère

9:30 am CET / 3:30 am ET – 1st run
12:30 pm CET / 6:30 am ET – 2nd run

Where to watch: 

Saturday, December 8 - Alpine Skiing World Cup on CBC: www.cbcsports.ca: (live stream)

4:00 & 7:00 am ET LIVE – Val d’Isère, FRA – Men’s giant slalom

5:15 am ET LIVE – St-Moritz, SUI – Ladies’ super-G

CBC-TV – Saturday December 8 – Road to the Olympic Games

2:00 - 3: 00 PM ET Alpine Skiing World Cup - Men's Giant Slalom - Val d'Isere

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