SUN PEAKS, B.C. – Brady Leman and Cameron Stuart, both of Calgary tied for first in a very close men’s giant slalom race on Tuesday at the Pontiac GMC Cup alpine skiing competition while Kelsey Serwa of Kelowna, B.C., dominated the women’s event.
In the men’s GS, Leman and Stuart both clocked a two-run time of 2:10.28. Cam Brewington, also from Calgary, was third at 2:10.29.
Leman maintains his lead atop the overall standings with Tuesday’s performance.
‘’It’s unbelievable how close the competition is between the three of us,’’ said Leman, first and second in the slaloms on Sunday and Monday. ‘’My first run was disappointing and I went as hard as I could on the second, and it paid off. My goal is to win the overall this year and I really want to hold on to that lead.’’
Stuart is also having a strong week. He won Monday’s slalom after placing second to Leman in Sunday’s opener.
‘’I’ve struggled with my GS this season so I’m stoked about the result,’’ said Stuart, fifth after the first run. ‘’I was happy with my first run but I knew it was close and there was opportunity to gain some positions. I feel my season’s turned around this week with these performances.’’
Brewington, the leader after the first run, earned his first career medal on the circuit.
‘’My first run was very good but I knew it would be all decided on the second,’’ he said. ‘’The second wasn’t as good but I managed to hang on barely to the podium. My GS has been going good lately so I knew I had a chance to do well. I had a rough start to the season but it’s getting better.’’
In the women’s GS, Serwa posted the fastest time on both runs for her first victory this season in 2:12.26. Andrea Bliss of Edmonton was second in 2:14.21 and Kayla Birdgeneau of Calgary third in 2:14.99.
‘’I’m a little bit surprised to win by such a gap because I’m having a bit of downer of a season,’’ said Serwa, 17, who’ll race for B.C., at the Canada Games next month. ‘’I made some changes a couple of weeks ago and that’s made a big difference. I was getting frustrated with my season so I decided I had to do something to put myself back on the right track.’’
Bliss, who earned first top-10 result this season in Monday’s slalom by placing 10th, and was ecstatic with the medal.
‘’The first run felt really smooth but my second run was all over place,’’ said the 17-year-old. ‘’I got caught in the powder but still pulled through. Up until now I haven’t had a successful year, I’ve made a lot of changes and I’ve needed to adjust to that. I’m focusing now on getting down cleanly and build from there.’’
Birdgeneau has battled back problems this season and has struggled to deliver two clean runs. But she’s been solid this week. She was also fourth in Sunday’s opening slalom.
‘’It was O.K., I definitely lost time on the second run,’’ said Birdgeneau. ‘’The nerves got to me. I should have just skied like I did in the first run and kept it simple. But it’s nice to be up there in the final standings.’’
Elli Terwiel of Sun Peaks, who left today for the world juniors after winning both slalom races this week, leads the overall standings with Marie-Michèle Gagnon of Lac-Etchemin, Que., also a world junior team member, in second.
Competition ends Wednesday. 
LIVE TIMING
More information:
Janice Avon
Pontiac GMC Cup
604-318-1081 (cell)
Top-15 Women (UNOFFICIAL)
1 (7) SERWA Kelsey [CAN] – J2 1:06.39 1:05.87 2:12.26 (FIRST JUNIOR)
2 (2) BLISS Andrea [CAN] – J2 1:07.46 1:06.75 2:14.21
3 (12) BIRDGENEAU Kayla [CAN] – J2 1:07.05 1:07.94 2:14.99
4 (5) IRWIN Stephanie [CAN] – J1 1:07.99 1:07.29 2:15.28 (FIRST J1)
5 (15) PARKER Alexandra [CAN] – J2 1:08.40 1:06.90 2:15.30
6 (3) WHITNEY Victoria [CAN] – J1 1:07.98 1:07.34 2:15.32 (SECOND J1)
7 (13) MAH Jennifer [CAN] – J2 1:08.44 1:07.53 2:15.97
8 (25) RAMSDEN Calindy [CAN] – J1 1:08.26 1:08.15 2:16.41 (THIRD J1)
9 (27) BRENNER Leslie [CAN] – J1 1:09.08 1:07.50 2:16.58
10 (20) ROCK Lauren [CAN] – J1 1:08.84 1:07.80 2:16.64
11 (17) MORAN Terra [CAN] – J1 1:09.28 1:07.40 2:16.68
12 (24) BERNIER Alexe [CAN] – J1 1:08.51 1:08.25 2:16.76
13 (6) MURRAY Julia [CAN] – J2 1:08.81 1:07.95 2:16.76
14 (29) FLOYD Sarah [CAN] – J1 1:09.28 1:07.49 2:16.77
15 (56) 106957 MACGOWAN Kerri – J1 1:09.21 1:07.58 2:16.79
Top-15 Men (UNOFFICIAL)
1 (9) LEMAN Brady [CAN] – SR 1:07.23 1:03.05 2:10.28
2 (4) STUART Cameron [CAN] – SR 1:07.34 1:02.94 2:10.28
3 (14) BREWINGTON Cam [CAN] – J2 1:07.00 1:03.29 2:10.29
4 (12) CROMPTON Jeff [CAN] – SR 1:07.33 1:03.20 2:10.53
5 (6) IRWIN Geoffrey [CAN] – J2 1:07.05 1:04.28 2:11.33
6 (13) PRIDY Conrad [CAN] – J2 1:07.64 1:03.80 2:11.44
7 (11) MACKIE Michael [CAN] – J2 1:08.18 1:03.44 2:11.62
8 (2) MUDRYK Brandon [CAN] – J2 1:07.37 1:04.36 2:11.73
9 (24) PRIDY Morgan [CAN] – J1 1:08.12 1:03.88 2:12.00 (FIRST J1)
10 (10) READ Erik [CAN] – J1 1:08.68 1:03.79 2:12.47 (SECOND J1)
11 (5) CANART Cory [CAN] – J2 1:09.40 1:03.46 2:12.86
12 (16) MCLEAN James [CAN] – J2 1:08.87 1:04.35 2:13.22
13 (7) THOMSEN Benjamin [CAN] – J2 1:08.77 1:04.53 2:13.30
14 (3) HADLEY Jonathan [CAN] – SR 1:09.52 1:03.95 2:13.47
15 (15) ZAITSOFF Sasha [CAN] – J1 1:09.76 1:04.06 2:13.82 (THIRD J1)