KELOWNA, B.C. – Alex Massie of Barrie, Ont., and Curtis Minard of Vernon, B.C., reached career highs with silver medals and Michelle Salt of Calgary added a bronze on Tuesday at the World Cup Final in Para snowboarding. All three are tuning up for the Winter Paralympic Games which start in one month in PyeongChang.
Minard took a nasty spill in his first heat but returned in the second to snag silver behind France’s Maxime Montaggioni in the Upper Limb category.
"I just went out there with no expectations and had some fun and it paid off,’’ said Minard. ‘’I’m so stoked. I’ve got a couple of bronzes so I’m slowly working my way up in the Upper Limb category so I’m absolutely ecstatic to have a silver World Cup medal."
Massie was neck and neck with Japan’s Gurimu Narita for most of the race, and came in just behind the Japanese rider to secure his first World Cup silver.
"It’s special,’’ said Massie. ‘’It was a bit of a battle out there today, some mental barriers for sure but worked through it, came out as close to the win as I can be happy with. It still feels pretty good to hang that silver around my neck."
Salt prevailed in the small final of the Women’s Lower Limb 1 category over the USA’s Megan Harmon.
"Obviously happy to compete at home, and to have such an awesome, technical, but fun course,’’ said Salt. ‘’It’s kind of cool to see that we’re all progressing on our riding level. I feel like the [event staff] have it really dialled in and this is one of the best competitions on the circuit."
Montreal’s Sandrine Hamel walked away with 4th in the women’s lower limb 2 category while Andrew Genge (Oshawa, ON, Upper Limb), John Leslie (Arnprior, ON, Lower Limb 2), and Colton Liddle (Wawa, ON, Lower Limb 2) finished 6th, 12th, and 14th respectively.
The team now prepares to take on the Banked Slalom course for the Banked Slalom World Cup Finals at Big White on Thursday February 8.
