Turgeon continues World Cup podium streak with silver finish in La Molina

Photo: Marcus Hartmann

La Molina, ESP (Alpine Canada and IPC) – Canada’s Frédérique (Fred) Turgeon (Candiac, Que./Club de ski Bromont) put together a two-run time of one minute, 47.53 seconds in Monday’s IPC Para-Alpine giant slalom to earn her third World Cup medal of the season in La Molina, Spain.

Turgeon, who was also on the podium three times at the 2019 IPC Para-Alpine World Championships, was more than two seconds faster than bronze-medallist Anna-Marie Rieder of Germany, but was unable to catch points-leader Marie Bochet of France, who clocked in at 1:42.50 to earn the win.

“Today felt pretty amazing. I had a good first run – the second run as a little bit harder on my leg – and overall, I had a lot of energy (to) keep that podium streak going (on the World Cup circuit),” said Turgeon. “I’m very happy with what I did today and I’m looking forward the rest of this week of competition.”

Despite an overall lack of snow, organizers and volunteers at La Molina offered up a firm freeze-thaw surface that’s been described by the Canadian contingent as ideal for racing. It requires sharp edges and a confidence in their ability from the racers to lay down fast times through the remaining races.

Teammates Alana Ramsay (Calgary/CADS Alberta) and Mel Pemble (Victoria, B.C./B.C. Adaptive Snowsports) finished sixth and eighth respectively in the ladies’ standing category.

For Ramsay it was her first race since crashing during training at the World Championships.

“I was just happy that I was able to push out of the gate this morning,” said Ramsay. “I froze at the gate. I burst into tears so just to get down, it was a really big thing.”

In men’s GS racing, Kurt Oatway (Calgary/Regina Alpine Race Team-Saskatchewan Alpine) was the top Canadian, finishing fifth in the men’s sitting category. Fellow sit-ski competitor Alex Cairns (Squamish, B.C./B.C. Adaptive Snowsports) was seventh. In the men’s standing category, Alexis Guimond (Gatineau, Que./Club de ski Mont-Tremblant) was sixth, and Braydon Luscombe (Duncan, B.C./B.C. Para-Alpine) was unable to complete his first run.

Action resumes on Tuesday with a second giant slalom race for both men and ladies. The first run is set to start at 3:45 a.m. ET, with the second run slated to begin at 6:30 a.m. ET. All races can be live streamed at the Canadian Paralympic Team’s Facebook page.