Latest news with #Guimond
CBC
22-03-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Canada's Guimond, Jepsen, Ericsson earn bronze medals at Para alpine World Cup finals
Social Sharing Canada's Para alpine skiers delivered three bronze medals on the second day of racing at the FIS World Cup finals in Veysonnaz, Switzerland. Alexis Guimond of Gatineau, Que., placed third in the men's standing giant slalom event, clocking a time of one minute 54.26 seconds. Arthur Bauchet (1:51.72) and Jules Seger (1:53.55) made it a 1-2 finish for France. The 25-year-old Guimond, who won bronze in the discipline at the last two Paralympics, also finished third on Thursday in the opening giant slalom event in Veysonnaz. He has five medals in six World Cup races this season, with a chance to add another Saturday. "Feels good to be back on the podium again," Guimond said in a release. "The skiing is there and great to have consistency. It truly builds confidence. Definitely felt like today was a possible victory, but mistakes happen and looking forward to chase the top of the podium tomorrow." Kimberley, B.C.'s Kalle Ericsson, competing with guide Sierra Smith of Ottawa, bounced back from Thursday's crash to take bronze in the men's vision impaired giant slalom — finishing just 1.6 seconds away from the gold medal with a time of 1:54.94. "Coming off yesterday's crash, it feels great to be back on the podium today," Smith said. "Today's result will give us a boost of confidence and help us go into tomorrow charging." Ericsson and Smith now have seven podium finishes this season. "Definitely looking forward to another race tomorrow," Ericsson said. "Missing second place by so little is tough but just goes to show that we need to be on our A game for tomorrow." Italy's Giacomo Bertagnolli and Andrea Ravelli (1:53.34) won the race ahead of Austrians Johannes Aigner and Nico Haberl (1:54.92). West Vancouver, B.C., native Mollie Jepsen, 25, took home bronze in the women's standing giant slalom in a time of 2:08.47. The six-time Paralympic medallist was competing in just her second race since coming back from injuries that started at the Beijing Games in 2022. "The last three years, two of which being out with my knee and my elbow, have been super challenging so I am trying to be kind to myself, dust off the cobwebs, and gain confidence with every start," Jepsen said. "I've been trying hard not to focus on results, but on my skiing and my tactical approach. "Today was a huge accomplishment and shows me I've been taking the right steps to get back to the top of the podium. Stoked to continue to build on today's momentum." Sweden's Ebba Aarsjoe (1:58.79) was the lone skier to go under two minutes, while France's Aurelie Richard finished ahead of Jepsen for silver in 2:05.96. Collingwood, Ont., native Michaela Gosselin (2:10.00) placed seventh.
CBC
06-03-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Canada's Para alpine skiers, young and experienced, look ahead to Milan Cortina
Social Sharing Kurt Oatway wasn't surprised when he saw just a strip of snow on the slope for the FIS Para alpine world championships in Maribor, Slovenia. While the able-bodied FIS alpine world championships went perfectly in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, the Para worlds had more than a few rocky moments just over one year before the Milan-Cortina Paralympic Games. "We saw the webcams, and there was very little snow," Oatway, 40, said. "The organizing committee and FIS representative who was working through it said the snow control is good, and the program was confirmed ... But as soon as we get there, it's downhill cancelled, and we're like, 'yeah, no kidding.'" It's a stark difference between the competitions organized by FIS, the world skiing governing body. In 2022, FIS took control of Para alpine from the International Paralympic Committee, which previously ran World Cup events. The world championships were initially scheduled to occur in the experienced venue of Bardonecchia, Italy, but organizers pulled out, leaving FIS to find an alternative solution. IPC President Andrew Parsons says Paralympics leave lasting legacy on host cities 3 minutes ago Duration 0:36 Canadians won three silver medals in the giant slalom and slalom, with visually impaired skier Kalle Ericsson and guide Sierra Smith reaching the podium alongside standing athlete Alexis Guimond. "The sport can sometimes be difficult with weather, but I was lucky we got the GS race, and I got silver. It's looking up for the rest of the season too," Guimond, 25, said. "FIS is pretty new [at organizing para events], but they're open to listening to the athletes, which is good, and that's a big change in a good direction. Oatway and Guimond are both veterans. They both landed on the podium at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympics — Oatway in super-G and Guimond in GS. Guimond repeated that performance at Beijing 2022, but an injury kept Oatway out of the Games. Since both made their Paralympic debuts in 2018, little has changed at the World Cup level. Outside of France, which, according to Oatway, has improved its Para Alpine events extensively, many competitions remain without the simple necessities. "The world championship did meet our expectations in terms of strong performances by all athletes on well-prepared courses," FIS said in a statement to CBC Sports. "The cancellation of speed disciplines was, of course, disappointing, but athlete safety remains our top priority." "FIS is in the process of securing or has already secured LOCs for the 2027, 2029, and 2031 Para alpine world championships. The event-planning process is now fully integrated within FIS, ensuring Para Snow Sports receives the same structured approach as able-bodied disciplines." Ericsson, 20, and Smith, 23, are in their second World Cup season and are looking ahead to their first Paralympics. However, they took the less-than-ideal world championship situation in stride. "It was a really big game of patience," Smith said. "But we got two off, and they went super well. I'm so happy that we could, you know, stay strong through the unfortunate cancellations. FIS did not respond to CBC Sports' request for comment on the Para Alpine organization before publication. Paralympics one year out Despite concerns about the sport's organization at the World Cup level, Milan Cortina is approaching quickly for a Canadian team featuring medal contenders. Skiers will compete in the Games on the Olympia delle Tofane in Cortina d'Ampezzo, a typical track for the women's FIS Alpine World Cup. Guimond and Oatway have thrived on it before. "It's going to be just an amazing feeling to be on that and that track. The prep on it is world-class, and we rarely get an opportunity like that to ski on such a famous hill," Guimond said, with him and Oatway having podiumed in the men's super-G and downhill races in the track's test event in 2024. Added Oatway, who hopes for a Paralympic return: "It's a long track, and there's a couple of steep sections, and a nice little jump that will keep you on your toes ... it's technical and fast, which should lead me in the right direction." This season has been exceptional, too, setting the stage for the Games a year from now. Oatway sits third overall in the sitting World Cup standings, with nine podiums in 2024-25, while Guimond has three podiums. Ericsson and Smith, still early in their partnership, are fifth in men's visually impaired eight podiums and won their first race in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in giant slalom in February. Young pair still learning While Guimond and Oatway lead as veterans, Ericsson and Smith are still developing and looking to become the top visually impaired Canadian skiers after six-time Paralympic medallist Mac Marcoux retired. "We have a lot of trust in one another when we're doing this," Ericsson said, first competing with Smith at the 2023 Canada Games. "I think that just having good communication and trusting in one another is something that's really important to how successful we've been." Despite challenges, they're both looking forward to the coming year leading to Milan Cortina, especially after their success at the abbreviated world championships. "I'm just really happy right now where Para Alpine skiing is at," he added. "Wearing that maple leaf on the back and skiing for such a great nation [at the Paralympics] is something I'd really be looking forward to."
