Banked slalom makes debut at Paralympic Games

Friday morning at the Jeongseon Alpine Centre, the snowboard discipline of Banked Slalom was contested for the first time in Paralympic history. Fresh off several top ten results in Monday’s Snowboardcross event, the Canadian team was looking forward to contesting their second event of the Paralympic Winter Games. 

Canada’s super 7 battled throughout all three of their runs, with several riders making history and taking home some top ten results. Sandrine Hamel (Saint-Sauveur-Des-Monts, QC), the first Canadian woman to ever compete for Canada in the Women’s LL-2 category, finished just off the podium in 5th, and is already looking forward after her 1st Paralympic experience. 

“I’m very proud of what I accomplished. I’m happy I had the chance to have been the first person to represent my country in my category (Women’s LL-2),” Hamel said. “There’s definitely room for improvement but I am excited to see what the future holds for me.”

The Para snowboard team will now head back to Canada and wrap up their competition schedule with an appearance at the Sport Chek Speed Nation Nationals held at Big White Ski Resort from March 21-26 2018.