Day 1 – WOMEN'S GS
Temperatures in the mid teens and cloudless blue rocky mountain skies greeted athletes at the Reese Alberta Cup Finals at Nakiska Resort near Calgary, April 3, 2004. The warm weather softened the course, but couldn't dampen the spirit of Shona Rubens of Calgary, Alberta, who won the opening Giant Slalom of the competition.
In the first run, the National Development Team's Sherry Lawrence set the fastest time, four tenths of a second faster than Rubens. “I was consistent all the way down,” said Lawrence after the first run. In the second run, it was Rubens with the fastest time and the best combined time over two runs.
In third place was Calgary's Carmel McElroy of Calgary's National Alpine Training Centre. McElroy is in the J1 age group, and was just happy to finish, let alone finish with a bronze medal. “I've been having trouble finishing lately, so this is a nice change.”
“The level of commitment by volunteers was awesome today,” said Chief of Race, Brett Sine. “Under difficult conditions, they pulled off an excellent track and an outstanding race.”
Top 10: 1. Shona Rubens, 2:04.37; 2. Sherry Lawrence, National Development Team, 2:04.80; 3. Carmel McElroy, NATC, 2:06.22; 4. Anastasia Skryabina, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, 2:06.31; 5. Janelle Miller, Alberta Ski Team, 2:06.38; 6. Emily Hamill, Alberta Ski Team, 2:06.94; 7. Alison Leighton, BC Ski Team and Whistler, 2:07.74; 8. Rachel Walker, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, 2:08.15; 9. Lindsay Kraft, Vernon Ski Club, 2:08.19; 10. Alison Hunter, Alberta Ski Team, 2:08.31.
DAY 2 – WOMEN'S GS
Under continued sunny skies, Calgary's Shona Rubens repeated the previous day's victory with another win in the Giant Slalom today. The National Development Team's Sherry Lawrence also repeated her podium performance to take the silver medal. The Alberta Team's Taryn O Flynn took bronze today.
O Flynn had the fastest time in the first run, a quarter of a second faster than Rubens. In the second run, it was Lawrence's turn to set the fastest time, seven tenths of a second ahead of Rubens. However, it was Rubens with the best combined time for the second day in a row.
Racing continues Monday and Tuesday with men's and women's slalom racing. The men's giant slalom goes Wednesday and Thursday.
Top 10: 1. Shona Rubens, 2:04.13; 2. Sherry Lawrence, Canadian Alpine Ski Team, 2:04.91; 3. Taryn O Flynn, Alberta Team, 2:05.11; 4. Allison Empey, Alberta Team, 2:06.10; 5. Rachel Walker, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, 2:06.64; 6. Kayla Birdgeneau, National Altitude Training Centre, 2:07.00; 7. Lindsay Kraft, Vernon Ski Club, 2:07.12; 8. Charlotte Whitney, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, 2:07.14; 9. Kristen Tarchuk, Alberta Team, 2:07.51; 10. Alison Leighton, BC Ski Team, 2:07.68.
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