SUN PEAKS, B.C. – BC Ski Team’s Elli Terwiel (Sun Peaks Alpine Club) raced on her home hill and dominated the women’s slalom race on Sunday to open four-day Pontiac GMC Cup alpine skiing competition while Alberta Ski Team members swept the medals in the men’s slalom.
In the women’s slalom, Terwiel clocked a two-run time of one minute and 32.04 seconds posting the fastest times on both runs for her first win on the circuit this season. Stephanie Irwin of Calgary, Alta., was second at 1:34.77 and BC Team member Georgia Simmerling (Grouse Tyee Ski Club) finished third in 1:35.01.
‘’It was awesome to win at home,’’ said Terwiel, whose parents were among the course maintenance crew. ‘’The race was held on a completely different hill than what I use to train on. But I had that confidence of being at home. I’ve done well this season to adjusting to different situations and still ski well.’’
Irwin, the daughter of former national team member Bill Irwin, collected her first career medal on the circuit.
‘’I’m pretty excited about the medal,’’ said Irwin. ‘’I’m a bit surprised because I’ve been racing speed events for the last few weeks. So I went in with the mindset there was nothing to lose and I was pretty relaxed.’’
Simmerling was eighth after the first run and appeared out of medal contention.
‘’I was a lot cleaner on the second run,’’ said Simmerling. ‘’I really stepped it up a notch.’’
In the men’s slalom, Brady Leman of Calgary posted his second win this season in 1:34.55 with Cameron Stuart of Calgary second in 1:34.65 and Chris Scheele of Edmonton third in 1:34.68.
‘’I didn’t have a very good first run and I was pretty far behind time-wise,’’ said Leman, third after the first run. ‘’I just went for it on the second and I was able to hang on to my line the whole way down. I used different tactics on the second by approaching the gates a lot better.’’
Stuart notched his second medal this season, both in slalom.
‘’The first run I was pretty pleased and put myself in a good position,’’ said Stuart. ‘’I was unimpressed though with my second. I made a couple of mistakes. The second run was easier but the conditions made it difficult.’’
Scheele made an impressive season debut with the bronze after posting the fastest time on the first run. The 18-year-old hadn’t raced this season due to a back injury.
‘’I was really happy with the first run, I was surprised to see myself in first,’’ said Scheele, who graduated to the Alberta team after a strong showing last season. ‘’On the second I just went for it, but it wasn’t enough. The back held up O.K. but I still have to take it easy.’’
Erik Read, the 15-year-old son of Crazy Canuck Ken Read, was 10th in his Pontiac GMC Cup debut. Madelaine Podborski, daughter of Crazy Canuck Steve Podborski, also made her debut on the circuit.
Competition continues through to Wednesday. 
LIVE TIMING
Janice Avon
Pontiac GMC Cup
604-318-1081
janice.avon@maclaren.com
Top-15 Women (UNOFFICIAL)
1 (11) TERWIEL Elli [CAN] – J2 0:45.90 0:46.14 1:32.04
2 (13) IRWIN Stephanie [CAN] – J1 0:47.70 0:47.07 1:34.77 (FIRST J1)
3 (15) SIMMERLING Georgia [CAN] – J2 0:48.24 0:46.77 1:35.01
4 (1) BIRDGENEAU Kayla [CAN] – J2 0:47.63 0:47.61 1:35.24
5 (6) WHITNEY Victoria [CAN] – J1 0:48.13 0:47.47 1:35.60 (SECOND J1)
6 (4) SERWA Kelsey [CAN] – J2 0:48.11 0:47.51 1:35.62
7 (10) MONOD Tatum [CAN] – J1 0:48.34 0:47.97 1:36.31 (THIRD J1)
8 (2) DELANEY Kara [CAN] – J2 0:48.15 0:48.39 1:36.54
9 (25) GLOWCZYNSKI Victoria [CAN] – J2 0:49.46 0:47.35 1:36.81
10 (8) MACDONALD Sandra [CAN] – J2 0:48.99 0:47.97 1:36.96
11 (3) BLISS Andrea [CAN] – J2 0:47.70 0:49.71 1:37.41
12 (20) MORAN Deirdre [CAN] – J2 0:49.15 0:48.58 1:37.73
13 (49) JONES Brittney [CAN] – J1 0:51.59 0:47.74 1:39.33
14 (22) RAMSDEN Calindy [CAN] – J1 0:50.91 0:49.22 1:40.13
15 (12) MURRAY Julia [CAN] – J2 0:50.67 0:49.59 1:40.26
Top-15 Men (UNOFFICIAL)
1 (10) LEMAN Brady [CAN] – SR 0:47.99 0:46.56 1:34.55
2 (13) STUART Cameron [CAN] – SR 0:46.95 0:47.70 1:34.65
3 (6) SCHEELE Chris [CAN] – J2 0:46.84 0:47.84 1:34.68
4 (8) BREWINGTON Cam [CAN] – J2 0:48.40 0:47.85 1:36.25
5 (5) HADLEY Jonathan [CAN] – SR 0:48.62 0:48.90 1:37.52
6 (7) ALEXANDER Sean [CAN] – J2 0:49.03 0:48.64 1:37.67
7 (28) PRIDY Morgan [CAN] – J1 0:49.44 0:49.13 1:38.57 (FIRST J1)
8 (23) MCLEAN James [CAN] – J2 0:50.24 0:49.04 1:39.28
9 (20) READ Erik [CAN] – J1 0:50.28 0:49.26 1:39.54 (SECOND J1)
10 (19) ROSE Trevor [CAN] – J2 0:49.81 0:49.74 1:39.55
11 (35) LEDUC Mathieu [CAN] – J1 0:50.84 0:49.71 1:40.55 (THIRD J1)
12 (16) REY Stanislas [CAN] – J2 0:52.14 0:48.74 1:40.88
13 (17) ZAITSOFF Sasha [CAN] – J1 0:51.92 0:49.06 1:40.98
14 (15) TAFEL Tristan [CAN] – J1 0:51.91 0:49.18 1:41.09
15 (31) TROW Andy [CAN] – J1 0:51.52 0:50.12 1:41.64