JOINES AMONG WINNERS AS TELUS PARA-ALPINE CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS GETS UNDERWAY

Overall IPC World Cup Crystal Globe winner, Kimberly Joines (Edmonton, AB) was quickest in both giant slalom runs in the Ladies sit-skier category, finishing in a winning two-run combined time of 2:04.36.

“I appreciate how much effort the course crew, race organizers and coaches put in to get (the course) in good shape despite the snowy conditions,” said Joines, who also captured the IPC World Cup giant slalom title earlier this season.

Arly Fogarty (Montreal, QC) won the Ladies standing skier category by almost one second with teammate Karolina Wisniewska (Vancouver, BC / Calgary, AB), a Paralympic medalist in 1998 and 2002, finishing second.

“I’m happier with my first run then my second. I had a couple of errors on the second run but that happens. It’s a two-run race and you don’t always feel good about both,” said Fogarty, who successfully defended her national GS title from last season.

Vivian Forest (Edmonton, AB) with guide Arnaud Rajchenbach (Montreal, QC), won the Ladies visually impaired category by over ten seconds

There are several racers from Great Britain and New Zealand competing at the 2008 TELUS Para-Alpine Canadian Championships that got underway despite significant overnight snowfall that continued well into the day.

Para-alpine racing is scheduled to continue tomorrow with an IPC Nor-Am giant slalom race followed by two days of slalom races that will bring the season to an end.

SUN PEAKS, BC – MAR 10^TH, 2008 – GS – LADIES

Visually Impaired Skiers female

1 FOREST Vivian B 2 CAN 1:58.03

Guide: RAJCHENBACH Anaud

2 FORESTELL Kathleen B 3 CAN 2:09.06

Guide: BOR Andrew

3 GRIGG Carly B 2 CAN 2:14.29

Guide: Roy-Ruel Julie-Christine

Sitting Skiers female

1 JOINES Kimberly LW 12-1 CAN 2:04.36

2 WILLOUGHBY Joe LW 10-1 GBR 2:11.78

3 TURNEY Anna LW 12-1 GBR 2:21.63