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It was a splendid start to the first annual Mars Canadian Junior Championships being held this week at Apex Mountain Resort. Fresh, soft snow did not hamper the kick-off, or the athletes' spirits.
Alison Leighton of Whistler and the BC Ski Team started Thursday's race in second position and easily held on to her first-place time of one minute, 13.34 seconds to finish the day in the top podium spot. This makes Ali the first BC athlete to accept Alpine Canada Alpin's invitation to take part, along with her coach, Nancy O'Neill, in the Canadian Alpine Ski Team spring training camp at Sunshine Village in May, 2004. This invitation is extended to the winners of each of the four races at this event.
“My goal today was to win, but I wasn't entirely expecting to.” Leighton told us after receiving her gold medal. “I feel relieved now that the first race is over and I'm really excited to be going to the Alpine Canada spring training camp. I think it will be such a good experience, I mean, I can learn more about my skiing and more about the sport with some of the top athletes and coaches around.”
Leighton, whose grandfather, Bob Parsons, was the original Chief of Race at the first World Cup downhill event in Whistler, BC, says speed is “in my blood.” “It is so special to be able to make my family proud,” said the 16-year-old. “My mom also used to be a downhiller, so skiing really runs in the family.”
Wearing bib number 28, Lindsay Kraft, of Vernon and the Silver Star Alpine Racers, stunned herself with an impressive second place finish in a blazing 1:14.21.
“I'm not very experienced in Super G, so I was not expecting this kind of result at all.” said Kraft, still somewhat amazed by what she had just accomplished. “We've been training downhill a lot lately, so today felt a little slower, but I guess the downhill camp really helped prepare us for today's race.”
In the words of BC Ski Team Coach Nancy O'Neill, “Lindsay loves the fall line! She's like a magnet to it, and it was the line she skied today that clinched this huge result for her. It was great to watch.”
Off the podium by only three one hundredths of a second was Whistler's Kendall Benbow, also of the BC Ski Team. Kendal was fourth with a time of 1:14.67 just behind bronze medalist Kayla Birdgeneau of Alberta.
“I was really excited to be racing today at such a great event” said Benbow after a satisfying conclusion to the day. “It's been nice to see a lot of friends from back east that we don't race with very often. The snow was quite fast and it held up well for the girls.”
“Kendall had the run of her season so far, said Coach Nancy O'Neill. “I was extremely proud of all the girls. They really stepped up today on a wonderful course that was brilliantly set by Whistler's Jordan Williams.”
Another fine result for BC was delivered by Julia Murray of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club who wrapped up the day in 6th position. Completing the top 15 in Thursday's Super G were three more BC athletes; Kali Flick of the Prince George Ski Club finishing 13th, Kerri Van Doorninck of the Cypress Ski Club and Vancouver Ski Team taking the 14th spot and Jillian MacLeod of the Sun Peaks Alpine Club sitting in 15th.
Congratulations to Jillian Macleod of the Sun Peaks Alpine Club who moved up from 41st to 14th to earn most improved racer of the day!
As the snow began to fall, men's Super G action followed the women's race and five talented BC boys took their places in the top 15. Podium spots were occupied by Gabriel Lepine of Quebec finishing first in one minute, 11.38 seconds, Simon Mannella, also from Quebec in second with a time of 1:11.65 and Tyler Nella of Ontario earning the third spot in 1:12.13.
Matthew Holler of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club was BC's fastest, finishing in a respectable fourth place (after starting 26th), only one tenth of a second behind the bronze medalist in 1:12.23.
From Grouse Tyee Ski Club and the Vancouver Ski Team, Liam Foran had a fantastic 7th place finish. Coming in 11th, 12th and 13th respectively were Jeff Hutton (Grouse/VST), Rob Wasiliew (Vernon Ski Club) and Ben Thomsen (Windermere Valley Ski Club).
BC Alpine's new “Live Timing” was launched today and proved to be a huge success! Approximately 2,275 people tuned in to watch Thursday's races on the BC Alpine website.
The Mars Canadian Junior Alpine Championship continues Friday with one more scheduled Super G race. Live Timing will be available again!
Top-10:
Women's super-G
1. Alison Leighton, Whistler, BC, 1:13.34. 2. Lindsay Kraft, Vernon, BC, 1:14.21. 3. Kayla Birdgeneau, Calgary, Alta, 1:14.64. 4. Kendall Benbow, Whistler, BC, 1:14.67. 5. Carmel McElroy, Calgary, Alta, 1:14.84. 6. Julia Murray, Whistler, BC, 1:15.77. 7. Larisa Yurkiw, Owen Sound, ON, 1:15.91. 8. Kayla Leman, Calgary, Alta, 1:15.94. 9. Jaimee Sanderson, Canmore, Alta, 1:16.07. 10. Jennifer Suderman, Calgary, Alta, 1:16.80.
Top-10:
Men's super-G
1.Gabriel Lepine, St-Colomban, Que., 1:11.38. 2. Simon Mannella, Piedmont, Que., 1:11.65. 3. Tyler Nella, Toronto, Ont., 1:12.13. 4. Matthew Holler, Vancouver, BC, 1:12.23. 4. James Lowe-Wylde, Calgary, Alta, 1:12.47. 6. Thomas St. Hilaire, Laval, Que., 1:12.59. 7. Liam Foran, North Vancouver, BC, 1:12.69. 8. Paul Atkinson, Toronto, Ont, 1:12.81. 9. Vincent Gilbert-Dore, Montreal, Que., 1:12.94. 10. Viktor Hlas, Winnipeg, Man., 1:12.99.
LINK TO LIVE TIMING