IPC CDNs Woolstencroft adds Canadian Championship to dream season

TELUS Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Championships gets underway in Mount Washington, BC

MOUNT WASHINGTON, BC Lauren Woolstencroft (North Vancouver, BC). Five time gold medalist at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, continued her impressive season by winning the giant slalom in the ladies standing category as the TELUS Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Championships got underway in Mount Washington, BC.

Woolstencroft was one of the two athletes crowned a national GS champion as Matt Hallat (Sqamish, BC) was a winner as well today.

Other national champions on the opening day of the national championships for para-alpine ski racers included Ontario’s Bradley Barker with his guide Kathleen Connelly and USA’s para-alpine ski racer Scott Meyer in the men’s sitting category.

Woolstencroft won the ladies standing category with a combined time of two minutes 04.38 in front of other CPAST team members Karolina Wisniewska (Vancouver, BC) in second place and Melanie Schwartz (Toronto, ON) in third place. Arly Fogarty (Montréal, QC) finished in fourth place.

“It was a great race. It’s unfortunate it was raining and snowing this morning, but all and all the volunteers and the Race Organizing Committee in Mount-Washington put on a really good race,” said Canadian Champion Woolstencroft.

“Canadian Championships are always a great way to end the season. After all the stress from the Paralympic Games, it’s great to come here with all your friends and whine down a little bit,” added Woolstencroft. “It’s also good to see all the great talent that we have across Canada.”

Hallat, who finished 11^th in the Paralympic downhill event, was crowned national champion in the giant slalom event today. His last title was won in 2007-08, as he finished second in last year’s event.

Josh Dueck (Vernon, BC) who competed in the men’s sitting category finished second in today’s event as USA’s Scott Meyer had the two fastest run with a time of 2:04.21.

The schedule in Mount Washington, BC calls for another GS tomorrow, this time a Nor-Am Cup event. The next national championship race will be a slalom on Saturday.

MOUNT WASHINGTON, BC– MARCH 25, 2010 - IPC CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS – M & L (OFFICIAL RESULTS, GIANT SLALOM)