Home is where the heart is for Alana Ramsay

Canadian alpine skier aiming to end World Cup season on a high in Kimberley.

International Paralympic Committee February 7, 2018

Canadian Alana Ramsay is heading into the World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals full of excitement as she will compete in front of her family and friends at her home hill in Kimberley, British Columbia.

“It is really exciting because I grew up skiing in Kimberley, so I’ll be skiing at home,” the 23-year-old said.

This will be the third World Cup that Ramsay takes part in the season after competing in Kuhtai, Austria, and in Veysonnaz, Switzerland. Her best results so far have been three third places at the former, but with the home support she is expecting to close her World Cup participation on a high note.

“I could invite my family who lives in the vicinity, representing my country in front of my family.”

Ramsay, who has cerebral palsy, launched her international alpine skiing career back in 2010 and has been improving ever since. “Alpine skiing is just so much fun. It’s about being outdoors and the freedom to go fast.”

She has so far competed at two World Championships in Panorama, Canada, in 2015, and Tarvisio, Italy, in 2017. Her best results came in the latter, winning silver in the women’s super-G standing and three bronzes in the downhill, super-combined and giant slalom.

She was also named Female Para Alpine Athlete of the Year at the 2016 Canadian Ski Racing Awards.

Two years before, she participated at her maiden Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, ending ninth in the slalom and tenth in the super-G.

Although France’s four-time Sochi 2014 champion Marie Bochet and Germany’s Paralympic gold medallist Andrea Rothfuss will be the leading medal contenders, Ramsay will be hoping to reach her first podium in PyeongChang.

“Kimberley is going to be a boost to everyone’s confidence going into PyeongChang. Not just myself, not just the Canadians, but for everyone who is there competing at the Finals,” she said.

Live streaming, highlights and complete live results are available on a dedicated World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup web site.

Broadcasters and news agencies interested in the 2018 World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup footage and interviews can contact Sascha Beck.

The Paralympic Winter Games take place in PyeongChang, South Korea from 9-18 March. Tickets can be purchased here.

Source International Paralympic Committee

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