Para sport notebook: Kurt Oatway and Mollie Jepsen cap World Cup #4 with Super G gold

SAALBACH, Austria – Kurt Oatway of Calgary and Mollie Jepsen of West Vancouver posted their first World Cup wins on Saturday with victories in the Super G to conclude the fourth stop on the Para alpine skiing circuit

Jepsen’s win, in women’s standing, is her first World Cup victory since December 2021 as she dealt with a series of injuries since Beijing 2022. Jepsen podiumed in all four races in Saalbach and has now stood on the podium in eight of her 11 World Cup races this season.

‘’It’s been a long time since I took the top spot in a World Cup,’’ said Jepsen, with six medals at the last two Paralympic Games. ‘’After all my injuries I wasn’t sure I would ever wear a leader bib again and I am stoked to walk away with it and even more confidence into the rest of the season.”

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In men’s sitting, Oatway registered his 10th career World Cup win, his third in super-G, and has reached the podium in both his races after missing the start of the World Cup season with injury.

“It feels good being on the top spot after dealing with injuries for about a year,’’ he said.  ‘’These races are setting me up on a solid foundation moving into the rest of season.”

Alexis Guimond (Gatineau, QC), racing in men’s standing, wrapped up an impressive week with a third-place finish today to make it two victories and two third place finishes in four races in Saalbach.

Michaela Gosselin of Colljngwood, Ont., posted four fifth place finishes giving her seven top fives in 12 World Cup starts this season.

The fifth stop on the circuit is this Thursday and Friday in Feldberg, Germany.

Natalie Wilkie collects sprint silver at Para cross country skiing World Cup

Natalie Wilkie of Salmon Arm, B.C., won the silver medal Saturday in the women’s 1.5 kilometre sprint as the second stop on the Para cross country skiing World Cup concluded this past weekend.

In the women’ standing sprint, Vilde Nilsen of Norway won the gold medal ahead of the seven-time Canadian Paralympic Games medallist while Sydney Peterson of the U.S., took the bronze.

Two other Canadians were in the top-10 with Emma Archibald of Fall River, N.S., seventh and Brittany Hudak of Prince Albert, Sask., eighth.  There were 22 entries.

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Christina Picton of Fonthill, Ont., was 10^th in the women’s sitting sprint while Madison Mullin of Fergus, Ont., and her guide Graham Nishikawa of Whitehorse took 11^th in the women’s visually impaired race.

On Sunday, Canada fielded two teams in the 4X2.5 km mixed relay placing sixth and 10^th.

Canada’s Para nordic skiers now head to Jakuszyce, Poland for the third and final stop on the Para biathlon World Cup circuit this Thursday to Sunday.

Tyler adds bronze at Para snowboard World Cup

Tyler Turner of Campbell River, B.C., won the bronze medal Saturday in the men’s lower limb 1 (LL1) banked slalom, his second medal at the World Cup stop in Para snowboard.

Noah Elliott of the U.S., completed a golden sweep on the banked slalom events placing first with Zhongwei Wu of China second.

On Friday, Turner was second, a career best World Cup banked slalom result.

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Chase Nicklin of Port Alberni, B.C., was sixth equalling his career best World Cup result.

Philippe Nadreau of Blainville, Que., was ninth in the men’s LL2.

The third stop on the circuit is this Wednesday and Thursday in Lenk, Switzerland followed by the Word Cup Final January 31 to February 2 at Big White, B.C.