ALPINE:

Two more podiums help para-alpine team reach IPC worlds' medal goal of 6

Jan. 20, 2011 — Alpine Canada  

SESTRIERE, Italy — The Canadian Para-Alpine Team accomplished its goal of winning six medals at the IPC World Championships with two more podium finishes on Thursday.

Ontario athletes Christopher Williamson, of Markham, and Karolina Wisniewska, of Ottawa, each placed third in the slalom event.

In the highly competitive men's visually impaired category, Williamson along with his guide, Robin Fémy from Mont-Tremblant, Que., crossed the finish line in a time of 2 minutes, 30.68 seconds.

"I was really hoping this would be my chance to finish first," said Williamson, 38. "I was ready and Rob and I were in the right state of mind.

"My first run this morning was pretty bad. I wasn't aggressive and I didn't let go of my skis that much, but my second run was pretty good and finishing the day on that note made the results a little easier to swallow."

Fémy added that he and Williamson had a frank discussion before the second run and decided to push their limits.

"I told Chris after the first run that he needed to ski as aggressive and as hard as he could," said Fémy. "If that resulted in us not being able to finish the race, then so be it. At this point, we need to ski hard because our goal is no longer to be on the podium but to be on top of it."

The second athlete to be cheered on by the Canadian contingent in Sestriere, Italy, was Wisniewska, who also finished in third place with a time of 1:45.53.

"I finished on the third step of the podium again today, but I am not as happy as I was yesterday. Being third in the super-combined was unexpected so the feeling was great," said Wisniewska, who competes in the standing category.

"After the first run I was second but after the second run I got bumped to third which is a little disappointing. But being on the podium is always an accomplishment so I have to be happy about that."

The medals brought Canada's total to six, after Williamson's third place in the downhill and super-combined event and second place in the super-G as well as Wisniewska' third-place finish in Wednesday's super-combined.

Matt Hallat, from Squamish, B.C., who races in the men's standing category, finished in ninth place.

"I'm really happy with the way I skied today," said Hallat. "My focus and intensity was there. The second run was set by an Australian coach and since they have two good athletes that ski on one leg like me, the course was perfect for my disability. I had to take advantage of that and I think I did

"The races in the men's standing category were so tight today, it was exciting to watch and it showed how competitive our sport is. This was definitely an amazing day."

Also in the men's standing category, Kirk Schornstein, from Spruce Grove, Alta., finished in 16th place.

Josh Dueck from Vernon, B.C., in the sitting category, was not able to finish the second run.

The Canadian Para-Alpine Ski team will be competing in slalom race on Friday. It will be screened live on Paralympic Sport TV, www.paralympic.tv.  S-Magazine