Whistler BC's Britt Janyk turned in two of the fastest runs of the day on the Panorama Piste at Semmering, AUT, to place a career-best sixth in Saturday's World Cup giant slalom.
Sitting 13th after the first run, Janyk laid it all on the line with the day's second fastest final run to finish 2-100ths of a second away from her first World Cup podium in 2:11.81. Janyk's time tied with Swiss veteran Sonja Nef amid a logjam of racers in the top-10 within 15-100ths of the podium.
Karen Putzer, of Italy, won her third World Cup race this season in an impressive time of 2 minutes, 11.10 seconds. Three-time Olympic gold medallist Janica Kostelic was second in 2:11.47 while Denise Karbon, of Italy and Austrian Nicole Hosp tied for third in 2:11.79.
Janyk placed 5th in the combined event at Are, Sweden last season, but says finishing so close to the podium in her prime discipline is the highlight of her young career.
“This is definitely my best result ever,” she said. “I've had some really good second runs this year and I just wanted to carry that forward today. A podium would have been great, and I'm looking forward to the day it does come. Today opened my eyes and let me see how close I am to the podium. I just have to continue to go out and race it.”
Canadian coach Jim Pollock said Janyk, 22, has won at every level so far and is using that experience to her advantage. Janyk won the overall Europa Cup giant slalom title and three Pontiac GMC Canadian Championship titles on her home hill at Whistler last March.
“That first podium just got away from us,” said Pollock. “Britt feels like she totally belongs in the top-10 on World Cup. She's very professional, very focussed and working hard. This result is a good indicator of how well she's skiing.”
The result moves Janyk into 16th place as top Canadian in the World Cup giant slalom standings. It also vaults her into the top-30 on the World Cup Start list for GS, joining Allison Forsyth and Genevi
Janyk Sixth in Semmering GS
