Comox Valley (BC), Canada – Lauren Woolstencroft, of North Vancouver, British Columbia, was once again crowned Canadian Champion Saturday as she won the slalom event in the women’s standing category as the TELUS Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Championships came to an end at Vancouver Island’s Mount Washington ski resort.nWoolstencroft was one of the three athletes who won the race Saturday as Morgan Perrin (Whistler, British Columbia) and Chris Williamson (Markham, Ontario), along with his guide Nick Brush (Panorama, British Columbia), also won the Canadian Championships in slalom.
Other Canadian national champions crowned on the last day of the national championships included USA’s para-alpine ski racer Scott Meyer in the men’s sitting category.
Woolstencroft won the women’s standing category with a two-run combined time of 1:20.29 in front of other Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team (CPAST) team members Karolina Wisniewska (Vancouver, British Columbia) in second place and Melanie Schwartz (Toronto, Ontario) in third place.
“I was super happy with my results today, I skied very well and I’m proud of myself. Winning the three races is a fantastic way to end the season, which has really been too good to be true,” said Woolstencroft. “This is definitely a great way to end an almost perfect season.”
Perrin, who also won Friday’s Nor-Am giant slalom event at Mount Washington, was crowned National Champion in the slalom event Saturday. He crossed the finish line with a combined time of 1:13.99. Perrin finished in front of development team member Kirk Schorenstein (Edmonton, Ontario), who finished in second place.
Williamson, along with his guide Brush, also finished with the fastest time in Saturday’s race with a two-run combined time of 1:10.42. This is Williamson’s first National Championship title since the 2007-08 season. It was also the last race for the pair, as Brush will be retiring from the competitive alpine skiing world in order to start college.
“It was a fun ride. We had a really good World Cup season and we were able to win the Overall Crystal Globe this year. Unfortunately, the Paralympics didn’t go as well as we would have hoped for but all and all I think what Nick and I were able to accomplish was exceptional,” said Williamson. “I’m definitely going to miss him but I am looking forward to years to come.”
Josh Dueck (Vernon, British Columbia) who competed in the men’s sitting category was not able to finish the slalom event. Matt Hallat (Squamish, British Columbia) straddled a gate and crashed and was also unable to finish. Arly Fogarty (Montreal, Quebec) did not start the slalom race.
The overall top male and female athlete for these Canadian Championships races received a prize for their accomplishments at the TELUS Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Championships. Woolstencroft was the winner in the women’s category and took home a Panasonic television as Schorenstein won a set of Continental Tires, each from CPAST sponsors.