VEYSONNAZ, Switzerland – Canadians Kalle Eriksson and his guide Sierra Smith continued their stunning start to their Para alpine World Cup careers on Tuesday with the silver medal in the men’s giant slalom for visually impaired at the circuit’s third stop.
Meanwhile two-time Paralympic Games medallist Alexis Guimond of Gatineau, Que., marched to a seventh medal in seven races this season with bronze in the men’s standing GS.
Johannes Aigner of Austria took the men’s visually impaired race clocking the fastest times on both runs and totalling 1:56.76. Eriksson and Smith, from Cochrane, Alta., and Ottawa, hung on to second spot despite the third best second run finishing in 1:58.45. Hyacinthe Deleplace of France was third in 1:58.86.
Triple Paralympic champion Arthur Bauchet of France took the men’s standing crown in 1:56.36 with Robin Cuche of Switzerland in 1:59.38 and Guimond third in 2:01.68.
In seven World Cup races this season Guimond has a gold, two silver and four bronze.
The course was bruised and battered by overnight rain then below freezing temperature in the morning.
‘’It was hard to find a rhythm and you had to be prudent,’’ Guimond told Sportcom. ‘’At the end of the day I was satisfied but still felt I could have done more.’’
Competition continues Wednesday with the men’s and women’s slaloms.
Rob Shaw wins opening match at Australian
The quad singles wheelchair tennis got underway Tuesday at the Australian Open in Melbourne. World number-19 Rob Shaw of North Bay, Ont., the recent Parapan American Games silver medallists, won his opening match 6-1, 6-0 over Finn Broadbent of Australia.
Shaw advances to the quarterfinals and will face fourth seed Guy Sasson of Israel. Sasson defeated Ali Ataman of Turkey 6-0, 6-1 in his opener.
