Canada's para-alpine skiers continued their dominance Wednesday as four athletes won eight medals -- six of them gold -- in super G and super combined races held at the International Paralympic Committee World Cup at Abtenau, Austria.
A total of nine athletes and two guides representing Canada at the Para-alpine World Cup event in the Austrian valley have won 11 World Cup podiums in two days, including eight gold medals, which is more than any other nation. The team is led by head coach Jean-Sébastien Labrie.
Lauren Woolstencroft of North Vancouver, visually-impaired Chris Williamson of Markham, Ont., with guide Nick Brush of Panorama, B.C. and sit-skier Kimberly Joines of Edmonton combined for a total of six gold medals, each winning their super G and super combined events.
Woolstencroft, skiing in the women's standing skier category, finished the super G in one minute 14.35, just 0.05 ahead of second place. She won the super combined, which combined her super G time with a slalom run later in the day, in a two-run time of 1:59.66.
"The conditions we saw today were similar to the ones we trained in in the summer, but it was still icy and I found it very slippery," said Woolstencroft, a multiple Paralympic Winter Games medalist and defending overall World Cup overall champion.
"It is exciting when it is really close. It's nice to know someone is breathing down my neck and I can still come out ahead."
In the sit-skier division, Joines won the super G in a time of 1:17.16 and followed that with a super combined victory in a two-run combined time of 2:11.25.
"I always love Super G but it was really awesome to increase my lead so much in the slalom following it," said Joines, who won the SC by over 12 seconds after taking the SG by just over four seconds.
"The slalom was nice and open, and despite the fact it was a lot icier I trusted my ski technician and the ski gripped really nicely," Joines added.
Williamson and his guide Brush were winners in the super G in 1:05.11 and their two-run super combined time was 1:43.75.
"The super G went well. I love the snow conditions we had. We had a really good inspection and knew where the line was to make the fastest time," said Williamson. "My closest competitors are usually lots closer to me. Maybe it's just an off week for Europeans all around. I know they can come out and beat me any time, so I always have to be on my game and always attacking."
"Most of the year, we have been training on hard snow and the course was a good course for us. We just nailed both runs," added guide Brush, who is still undefeated in World Cup ski racing action.
Carly Grigg of Victoria, a visually-impaired skier, and guide Julie-Christine Roy-Ruel of Lachenaie, Que., took home bronze medals in both the super G and the super combined.
