Canada’s Para alpine skiers stole the show on Wednesday with seven podium finishes at a World Cup downhill event in Santa Caterina, Italy.
Michaela Gosselin of Collingwood, Ont., won back-to-back races, claiming her first-career World Cup victory on a day that featured two downhills per classification in order to avoid bad weather forecasted for Thursday.
All five Canadians reached the podium.
The 23-year-old Gosselin, competing in the women’s standing classification, earned her fourth top-three finish of the season.
“My first World Cup win, my first podium in downhill, and back-to-back wins today, is all pretty exciting,” Gosselin said in a press release. “I’m very, very pleased with my results today.”
Calgary’s Kurt Oatway continued his strong start to the season Wednesday with first- and second-place finishes in the men’s sitting races, extending his podium streak to seven.
“Three World Cup wins and seven podiums to start the season feels pretty good,” Oatway said. “Hope to keep the momentum building into world championships in February.”
Kimberley, B.C., native Kalle Ericsson and guide Sierra Smith of Ottawa delivered a pair of third-place performances in the men’s visually impaired category.
“Best result for Sierra and I in downhill so a great day today,” Ericsson said. “And we’re super pumped for the rest of the team all making the podium today.”
Alexis Guimond, a two-time Paralympian from Gatineau, Que., added to Canada’s haul in his first race of the season, placing third in the second men’s standing downhill. The 25-year-old’s campaign was delayed after a fall during training.
“It feels great to be back racing and to hit the podium today,” Guimond said. “Was a treat to race my first World Cup this season and excited by the result.”
The Canadian Para alpine team will head to St. Moritz, Switzerland for a pair of giant slalom races on Jan. 11-12.
