Canadian Para alpine skier Kalle Ericsson, guide Sierra Smith win giant slalom at World Cup finals
Canadian Para alpine skier Kalle Ericsson and guide Sierra Smith win gold in Veysonnaz
Canadian Para alpine skier Kalle Ericsson and his guide Sierra Smith made Canada proud by capturing gold in the men’s vision-impaired giant slalom race at the World Cup finals in Veysonnaz, Switzerland. This victory marked Canada’s first win in Veysonnaz, with Ericsson and Smith posting an impressive time of one minute 52.73 seconds in the final giant slalom race of the season.
The Italian duo of Giacomo Bertagnolli and Andrea Ravelli finished just 0.45 seconds behind the Canadians to claim the silver medal, while Austria’s Johannes Aigner and Nico Haberl secured the bronze with a time of 1:55.55.
Ericsson and Smith, who are in their first season of competing together, have been a dominant force throughout the campaign, with this win marking their eighth podium finish. They had previously clinched the bronze medal in Friday’s giant slalom event.
Meanwhile, Canada’s Mollie Jepsen and Alexis Guimond also showcased their talent by reaching the podium for the second consecutive day. Jepsen, a 25-year-old from West Vancouver, B.C., claimed the bronze medal in the women’s standing giant slalom event, edging out France’s Aurelie Richard by a mere 0.2 seconds.
Swedish skier Ebba Aarsjoe continued her winning streak by securing her third giant slalom victory in as many days in Veysonnaz, while China’s Zhang Mengqiu, the reigning Paralympic champion, finished in second place.
Canadian skier Michaela Gosselin, hailing from Collingwood, Ont., also put up a strong performance by finishing in seventh place with a time of 2:06.23.
Jepsen, a six-time Paralympic medallist, has been making a remarkable comeback after injuries sustained at the 2022 Beijing Games. Guimond, on the other hand, has been consistent in his performances, winning his sixth medal in seven World Cup races with a time of 1:53.93.
The World Cup finals in Veysonnaz will continue with slalom races scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, offering more thrilling action and opportunities for athletes to showcase their skills on the slopes.
