Shona Rubens of Calgary returned to the top step on the medal podium Saturday with a victory in the women's slalom, while Ryan Perlus of Willowdale, Ont., took the men's race at the Pontiac GMC Cup at Panorama Mountain
Rubens clocked a two-run time of 1:53.21 for her third victory in four days. She also won the opening giant slalom races on Wednesday and Thursday and was second in Friday's slalom. Kristin Tarchuk of Banff, Alta., was second in 1:54.31 and Sherry Lawrence of Calgary, Friday's winner, third in 1:54.82.
“I felt more awake today and had more energy for some reason,” said Rubens, 18, who missed most of last season in order to complete high school. “I didn't mess up at all and had two solid runs. This is a fantastic way to start the season.”
Tarchuk, was second after the first run and held on to the position for her first medal this week.
“It's nice to get a good finish,” said Tarchuk, 18, a second-year Alberta team member. “It all came together for me today.”
In the men's slalom, Perlus clocked 1:46.02 over two runs for the gold with Brad Spence of Calgary second at 1:46.24 and BC Ski Team's Scott Hume of Whistler, B.C., third at 1:46.50.
“I was so surprised by my third place finish yesterday, that I just wanted to continue skiing well,” said Perlus, a member of the Ontario Ski Team. “On the first run I ended up a tenth behind Brad so I just tried to stay calm and loose on the second run – and hoped that things would come together and it did.”
Hume, whose brother Jeff is currently with the national team in Europe, couldn't repeat Friday's winning performance.
“I made a few mistakes on the first run and that's all it takes at Panorama to lose the race,” said Hume, 22. “I was not as solid as yesterday, not as calm and fluid.”
Each of the winners receives $600.00.
The Pontiac GMC Cup series features 32 races in four provinces before the national championships in March. The kick-off event at Panorama Mountain runs until December 20. The series culminates with the 2005 Pontiac GMC Canadian Championships at Mont Ste-Anne and Le Massif, in Quebec, from March 17-22, 2005. The best young athletes from Canada compete head-to-head against athletes from the Canadian Alpine Ski Team in speed and technical events.
Competition continues through to Monday, with Men's Giant Slalom on Sunday and Monday.
Top-30 BC Women:
13 GRAHAM Jenni
14 GUNOFF Lisa
15 SIMMERLING Georgia
16 MURRAY Julia
18 SKRYABINA Anastasia
19 TERWEIL Elli
20 CARMICHAEL Jessie
22 MAH Jennifer
23 MACDONALD Sandra
26 DEARDEN Kellie
27 KRAFT Lindsay
29 MARSHALL Sarah
Top-30 BC Men:
3 HUME Scott
5 ANDERSON David
9 CHADDOCK Ben
11 DIXON Robbie
15 WARING Marcus
17 COLPITTS Chris
30 WASILIEW Rob
FULL WOMEN'S SLALOM RESULTS