Submitted by AOA’s Para Chair Gwen Binsfeld who is one busy coach & organizer! 

“Ontario Para Alpine Ski Team (OPAST) athletes Sarah Gillies/Mansfield, Alex Marta/Camp Fortune plus development athletes Rebecca Mideros/Mount Ste Louis, Ben Harris/Craigleith and Euan Hanson from Osler Bluff recently traveled west to train at Sunshine and Norquay, before heading off to the first World Para Alpine Ski race in Panorama, BC.

This annual race  was extremely well attended as athletes aim to get their points down to qualify for the upcoming Paralympics in Korea. With athletes from Russia, China, Chile, Mongolia and Japan, our young athletes got a taste of the times they need to aspire to and all finished well. CPAST members were there in full force including our own Ontario Erin Latimer (Craigleith) and Mac Marcoux (Searchmont Ski Runners).  Continuing on from last season`s success this season opener put Erin in 4th GS, 3rd SG, 5th SG and 5th in SL. Max also took home gold in GS and both SGs.

Once again, Ontario had the largest team there, and that did not include three of our members who were unable to make the trip. ACA coaches have scouted three of our young athletes including Sarah Gillies/Mansfield, Rebecca Mideros/Mount Ste. Louis, Rod Crain/Craigleith and Brian Rowland of Calabogie Peaks to attend the ACA Rising Stars Camp in Kimberley this January.”