Alpine Canada News Release
LARISA YURKIW LEADS SIXTEEN MEMBER CANADIAN TEAM TO WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Eight Canadian alpine ski team athletes and eight provincial team skiers heading to Spain
CALGARY, AB (February 15th, 2008) – Recently-crowned Pontiac GMC Canadian downhill and super G champion Larisa Yurkiw (Owen Sound, ON) will lead 16 of Canada’s most talented young ski racers as the Canadian team heads to the 2008 FIS World Junior Alpine Championships in Formigal, SPA from February 23rd to 29th, Alpine Canada Alpin announced today.
Yurkiw, who currently leads the Ladies overall Coupe Nor-Am Cup standings, will be joined by Canada’s 2010 Acceleration Team members Marie-Pier Préfontaine (St-Sauveur, QC), who is heading to her third World Junior Championships as well as Georgia Simmerling (West Vancouver, BC), Coupe Nor-Am Cup downhill champion Kelly McBroom (Canmore, AB) and Eve Routhier (Sherbrooke, QC).
The Men’s team is led by Canadian development team skiers Tyler Nella (Toronto, ON), who finished 18th in downhill at the 2007 World Junior Championships. Nella’s teammates will include Travis Dawson (Calgary, AB) who was the top Canadian junior in the slalom at last week’s Pontiac GMC Canadian championships junior races and Dustin Cook (Lac Sainte Marie, QC), who found the podium in giant slalom at the national junior championships in 2006.
ACA National development director Mark Sharp said the World Junior Championships are a critical benchmarking opportunity to see where some of our talented young skiers compare to the rest of the world.
“This year we are sending athletes who are there to go for medals and younger athletes who will gain valuable experience for future World Championships by competing against some of the world’s best young racers,” Sharp said
“Enhancing development programs for ski racing in Canada at all ages and encouraging more youth to enter the sport is an integral component of Alpine Canada Alpin’s current efforts to restore Canada as a world-leading alpine racing nation. Events like this allow us to measure our athletes’ progress as we strive to be the best in the world at every level,” added Sharp.
The Canadian team competing at the World Junior Championships include athletes who are 19 year’s old and under.
2008 FIS WORLD JUNIOR ALPINE CHAMPIONSHIPS CANADIAN TEAM
MEN
Cam Brewington – Calgary, AB (Calgary Alpine Racing Club)
Dustin Cook – Lac Sainte Marie, QC (Mont Ste-Marie) CAST
Travis Dawson – Calgary, AB (NATC – Fernie) CAST
Geoffrey Irwin – Calgary, AB (Banff Alpine Racers)
Michael Mackie – Canmore, AB (Banff Alpine Racers)
Tyler Nella – Toronto, ON (Georgian Peaks) CAST
Erik Read – Calgary, AB (Banff Alpine Racers)
Mathieu Routhier – Sherbrooke, QC (Orford)
LADIES
Tess Davies – Canmore, AB (Banff Alpine Racers)
Stephanie Irwin – Calgary, AB (Banff Alpine Racers)
Kelly McBroom – Canmore, AB (Banff Alpine Racers) CAST
Brittany Phelan – Tont Tremblant, QC (Mont-Tremblant)
Marie-Pier Préfontaine – St-Sauveur, QC (Club Chantecler) CAST
Eve Routhier – Sherbrooke, QC (Orford) CAST
Georgia Simmerling – West Vancouver, BC (Grouse Tyee Ski Club) CAST
Larisa Yurkiw – Owen Sound, ON (Georgian Peaks Ski Club) CAST
* The disciplines in which each athlete will compete have yet to be determined.
2008 FIS WORLD JUNIOR ALPINE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Schedule of Events
23.02.2008 Formigal SPA SG L
24.02.2008 Formigal SPA DH TRAINING M
24.02.2008 Formigal SPA DH TRAINING L
25.02.2008 Formigal SPA DH TRAINING M
25.02.2008 Formigal SPA DH TRAINING L
26.02.2008 Formigal SPA DH M
26.02.2008 Formigal SPA DH TRAINING L
27.02.2008 Formigal SPA SL M
27.02.2008 Formigal SPA DH L
28.02.2008 Formigal SPA SG M
28.02.2008 Formigal SPA SL L
29.02.2008 Formigal SPA GS M
29.02.2008 Formigal SPA GS L
* Subject to change without notice