Rookie BC Ski Team athlete Dustin Fraser of Quathiaski Cove, BC was the fourth fastest racer in one minute, 52.60 seconds on Sunday as the Pontiac GMC Cup wrapped up four great days of competition at Nakiska, AB. Dustin McLeay of Calgary completed a golden sweep of the men's slalom events Sunday at the Pontiac GMC Cup Series alpine skiing competition while Julie Rabnett of Calgary took the women's slalom race.
In the men's slalom, it was the same1-2-3 finish as Saturday with McLeay first in a two-run total time of 1:49.73, Aaron Civitarese of Trail, B.C., second in 1:51.13 and Cameron O'Donnell of Calgary third in 1:51.51.
“I skied smart,” said McLeay. “On the first run I made one big mistake because I sat back too much, but I was able too recover. On the second run I was tentative because I wanted to protect my lead and win the race.”
Civitarese was the overall series champion in 2001. “On the second run I was out of control the whole way down. I wanted top spot,” he said.
In the women's slalom, Rabnett clocked a two-rune total time of 1:55.31 to end a three-race win streak by Calgary's Shona Reubens. Alison Hunter of Aurora, Ont., was second in 1:56.11 and Jessica Dakers of Calgary third in 1:59.97.
Reubens, won the giant slalom races on Thursday and Friday and the slalom on Saturday, but did not complete her first run Sunday.
“This has been a tough competition for me, so it's great to get the win,” said Rabnett, who didn't finish either GS race this week and missed a gate in Saturday's slalom. “It gave me confidence to be first after the first run and I really fought hard in the second to stay on top.”
The second stop in the series is set for Georgian Peaks and Devils Glen in Collingwood, Ont., for the technical events for Eastern-based skiers January 30-February 2. Other series stops are Le Massif, Que., and Apex Ski Resort in Penticton, B.C. The series concludes with the
Pontiac GMC Canadian Championships March 21-27 at
Whistler, B.C.
Sunday's slalom results at the Pontiac GMC Cup alpine skiing series
Men: 1. Dustin McLeay, Calgary, 1:49.73; 2. Aaron
Civitarese, Trail, B.C., 1:51.13; 3. Cameron O'Donnell,
Calgary, 1:51.51; 4. Dustin Fraser, Quathiaski Cove,
B.C., 1:52.60; 5. Brett Haney, Calgary, 1:53.38; 6.
Derek Mortson, Chestermere, Alta., 1:53.65; 7.
Christopher Colpitts, Whistler, B.C., 1:54.27; 8. Tyler
McNabb, Kelowna, B.C., 1:54.47; 9. Stewart Wilson,
Edmonton, 1:54.48; 10. Trevor Conroy, Valley Truro,
N.S., 1:54.67
Women: 1. Julie Rabnett, Calgary, 1:55.31; 2. Alison
Hunter, Aurora, Ont., 1:56.11; 3. Jessica Dakers,
Calgary, 1:59.97; 4. Rachel Walker, Whistler, B.C.,
2:00.46; 5. Helen Schott, Calgary, 2:01.29; 6. Izzy
Lynch, Calgary, 2:02.37; 7. Janelle Miler, Lethbridge,
Alta., 2:02.45; 8. Kayla Birdgeneau, Calgary, 2:02.97;
9. Anastasia Skryabina, Whistler, 2:03.54; 10. Kendall
Benbow, Whistler, 2:03.76.
Information:
Steve Henry, Pontiac GMC Cup, 416-804-2238
Janice Avon, 604-318-1081.