Canada’s Sandrine Hamel wins silver medal to open Para snowboard worlds

PYHA, Finland – Sandrine Hamel of St-Sauveur, Que., won the silver medal on Wednesday in the women’s banked slalom event at the 2019 World Para Snowboard Championships. It’s the first career worlds medal in two appearances for the 21-year-old.

Lisa Bunschoten of the Netherlands won the gold clocking 56.22 seconds on the second of her two runs. Hamel, who posted two top-five results at the Paralympic Games last winter, followed at 59.56 earned on her first run. Fina Paredes of Spain was third.

‘’It’s a great moment of pride to get my first world championship medal,’’ said Hamel, who has three silver medals this season on the World Cup circuit. ‘’The banked slalom has been my best event all winter.

‘’I was very confident this morning and I gave my all in the first run.’’

In the men’s event, World Cup leader Alex Massie of Barrie, Ont. was sixth. Sun Qi of China took the gold.
Massie’s best event is the snowboard cross which goes on Saturday.

(with files from Sportcom)