Submitted by Gwen Binsfeld, AOA Para-Alpine Head Coach….
“Four of the developing athletes on the Ontario Para-Alpine Ski team joined Team Ontario and were a force to be reconned with at the recent 2019 Canada Winter Games. All four made it to the podium! These athletes spend most of their season training with their able-bodied teams and rarely come together in a para environment to really know where they fit on the path to the National Team, that they all aspire to.
Brian Rowland, from Calabogie, had a spinal cord injury two and a half years ago and has developed quickly as a competent sit skier. Brian, formerly a fully licensed plumber, has embraced the challenge of making it to the next Paralympics and has made a great start at impressing the ACA coaches. Brian had a solid run in GS resulting in a Bronze medal.
Ben Harris is a grade 12 student, with cerebral palsy, and trains at the Craigleith Ski Club. He has worked hard to develop to the stage that he can contend with a course that eliminates many of the able-bodied competitors. We are especially proud that he came home with a bronze medal in both GS & SL, after years of hard work!
Abbey VanDuzer, a congenital leg amputee, skis U16 on one leg, also at Craigleith. Abbey was a strong contender in both GS & SL, coming home with a Bronze medal in slalom.
Rebecca Mideros, another 3 track skier, skies on the U16 circuit, out of the Glacier Ski Club. Rebecca laid down two tough runs in SL to come home with a Silver medal.
Congratulations to you all! Lastly a big thank you to my co-coach Sandy Nattress and support staff, John Ross, and strength and conditioning coach Alyssa Woronecki!
