Canadian Para alpine skier Kalle Ericsson, guide Sierra Smith win giant slalom at World Cup finals

Canadian Para alpine skier Kalle Ericsson and his guide Sierra Smith captured gold on Saturday in the men's vision-impaired giant slalom race at the World Cup finals in Veysonnaz, Switzerland.

Ericsson, from Kimberley, B.C., and Sierra Smith of Ottawa claimed Canada's first win in Veysonnaz on the third day of racing, posting a time of one minute 52.73 seconds in the final giant slalom of the season.

Italy's Giacomo Bertagnolli and Andrea Ravelli finished 0.45 seconds behind the Canadians for silver, with Austria's Johannes Aigner and Nico Haberl taking bronze in 1:55.55.

Ericsson and Smith, competing in their first season together, claimed their eighth podium finish of the campaign. They took bronze in Friday's giant slalom.

"It feels great being on the top of the box today," Ericsson said. "Going into the second run in a fighting position made us want it that much more. We stuck to our plan and gave it our all."

"Our skiing has been there this season and so claiming another win in the final GS of the season is the cherry on top," added Smith.

Ericsson and Smith, who trailed the Italians by 0.36 seconds after the first run, delivered the fastest second run for their second giant slalom win of the season and the fourth of their career. The result moves them into third place in the final giant slalom season standings.

Canada's Mollie Jepsen and Alexis Guimond also reached the podium for the second straight day, earning bronze medals in the women's and men's standing giant slalom events.

The 25-year-old Jepsen, from West Vancouver, B.C., clocked 2:03.41 to edge France's Aurelie Richard for third place by just 0.2 seconds

Sweden's Ebba Aarsjoe (1:55.28) won her third giant slalom race in as many days in Veysonnaz, while reigning Paralympic champion Zhang Mengqiu of China was second with a time of 1:59.13.

Collingwood, Ont., native Michaela Gosselin (2:06.23) also cracked the top 10 with a seventh-place finish.

Jepsen, a six-time Paralympic medallist, was competing in just her third race since coming back from injuries that started at the 2022 Beijing Games, where she won silver in the same event.

"Today was a really great day for me," Jepsen said. "I was able to put down skiing I can be proud of and walk away with another podium. I didn't have expectations coming into these first races back, but I definitely knew I could stand on the box if I skied the way I had been in the training leading up.

"I am so happy to be 100 per cent back and pushing. I am headed home now to recover and start prepping for next season!"

Guimond, who hails from Gatineau, Que., won his sixth medal in seven World Cup races this season in 1:53.93.

The 25-year-old claimed bronze in the discipline at the last two Paralympics and finished third on Thursday and Friday in Veysonnaz.

"I'm pretty satisfied to have three podiums in a row but honestly, I hoped to be more competitive with the top two skiers in my category," Guimond said. "It's definitely fuel for next season for sure.

"I know I'm capable of hunting for the top step and I'll continue working towards that in the off-season. Thank you everyone, coaches, staff, teammates, for an amazing season."

The World Cup finals continue with slalom races on Monday and Tuesday.