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While American ski wizard, Bode Miller, skied two solid runs to become only the second skier in history to record wins in all four alpine skiing disciplines in the same season, following Marc Girardelli's 1989 feat, Canada's Thomas Grandi finished a solid 13th and Michael Janyk won his first career World Cup points with a 16th place finish.
Janyk, who was the 53rd skier out of the gate in the first run of Monday's Slalom race in Sestrieres, Italy, had the 24th fastest first-run time and took advantage of a low second-run start position to offer the 6th fastest time of the second leg. Janyk moved up to 16th place in the overall standings, just 3.15 seconds off Miller's combined time.
To quote Eurosport.com's live commentary during the race, “Michael Janyk's looking a bit nervous, but he's ahead at the first check… he loses a bit of pace over the last section, and comes in second. He punches the air in delight though – that's his first ever World Cup slalom finish, so maiden points for the Canadian.”
Janyk, who grew up skiing at Whistler (BC), has been on the Canadian Alpine Ski Team since 2000. As the 2004 Pontiac GMC Canadian Champion in slalom, this is Janyk's first time qualifying for a second run on the World Cup circuit and his first career World Cup points.
Thomas Grandi, from Canmore (AB), offered yet another solid performance, finishing 15th in the first run and moving up to the 10th spot in the second run for an overall time of 1:42.07, putting him in 13th place.
As the team's veteran, Grandi has been very consistent this season, securing 4, top 15 finishes on the World Cup circuit in slalom and giant slalom. However, in this pre-Olympic and World Championship season, Grandi is seeking to step on the podium.
Also taking part in this evening's race were Ryan Semple from Mont Tremblant (QC) and JP Roy from Ste-Flavie (QC). While Semple was close to qualifying, having the 39th fastest time of the first run, Roy finished 46th.
The next stop for the men's technical World Cup is December 19 for the Alta Badia giant slalom.
RESULTS
1 MILLER Bode USA 50.51 48.52 1:39.03
2 ZURBRIGGEN Silvan SUI 52.00 48.30 1:40.30
3 PALANDER Kalle FIN 51.21 49.23 1:40.44
4 RAICH Benjamin AUT 51.51 49.83 1:41.34
5 SASAKI Akira JPN 52.72 48.63 1:41.35
6 ROTHROCK Tom USA 52.08 49.45 1:41.53
7 PRANGER Manfred AUT 51.70 49.86 1:41.56
8 MOELGG Manfred ITA 51.93 49.74 1:41.67
9 SCHOENFELDER Rainer AUT 51.86 49.92 1:41.78
10 BROLENIUS Johan SWE 52.95 48.88 1:41.83
11 MINAGAWA Kentaro JPN 53.04 48.89 1:41.93
12 VOGL Alois GER 52.20 49.81 1:42.01
13 GRANDI Thomas CAN 52.48 49.59 1:42.07
14 MYHRER Andre SWE 52.64 49.50 1:42.14
15 ENGL Kurt AUT 52.54 49.61 1:42.15
16 JANYK Michael CAN 53.01 49.17 1:42.18
Canadians who did not qualify 1st run : SEMPLE Ryan (CAN), ROY Jean-Philippe (CAN)