SUN PEAKS, B.C. – Sandra MacDonald of Summerland, B.C., earned her first career victory on the Pontiac GMC Cup alpine skiing circuit on Friday winning the women’s giant slalom race.
MacDonald clocked a two-run time of 2:12.80 with Andrea Bliss of Edmonton second in 2:13.16 and Nicole Poleschuk of Calgary third in 2:13.33.
‘’It was one of my best performances,’’ said MacDonald 19, who was out at start of the season due to mononucleosis. ‘’This hill was very flat so it was important to ski cleanly. I really picked it up as well for the second run by also being more aggressive. It hasn’t been that great a season for me so it was nice to see some improvement today.’’
Bliss raced for the first time this season. She had been off the slopes since September due to a concussion suffered in training.
‘’I felt great today,’’ said Bliss, the leader after the first run. ‘’I was a little cautious but also anxious and nervous to see where I stood with the girls. I’ve missed so much and haven’t trained as much. But I’m really confident and happy with my performance.’’
Poleschuk was the only repeat medallist from Thursday’s GS.
‘’It was hard to compare with yesterday’s race,’’ said Poleschuk. ‘’But all and all both days were good for me. I was just looking to have fun and really rip down the hill.’’
In the men’s GS, Jake Baker of the U.S., was the winner in 2:01:97, Jonathan Hadley of Britain second in 2:02.61 and Sean Alexander of Calgary third in 2:02.69.
Hadley, is a dual citizen, who races internationally for Britain. His hometown is Clarksburg, Ont., and his club is Edmonton Alpine Sports Academy.
‘’It was pretty good, but I wish I would have been a bit faster in the first run,’’ said Hadley. ‘’In the second run I knew I had to step it up to get on the podium. I feel like everything is just starting to come together for me now.’’
Alexander stepped on the podium for a second straight day. He was ninth after the first run.
‘’It was good to get on the podium because I had a pretty tough first run,’’ said Alexander, second on Thursday. ‘’I knew what I had to fix for the second run and I just made sure I executed. I didn’t worry too much about the position. I just focused on the technical parts.’’
The Pontiac GMC Cup is Canada’s national development race series geared towards the development of Canada’s future champions. The series has produced past Canadian skiing greats such as Ken Read and Kathy Kreiner and current national team stars Kelly VanderBeek, Michael Janyk and François Bourque. The series features races in four provinces culminating with the 2008 Pontiac GMC Cup Canadian Championships at Whistler, B.C., February 6-12 (speed events) and Mont-Ste-Anne, Le Relais and Stoneham March 18-23 (technical races).
Competition continues through to Sunday. Click for LIVE TIMING AND COMPLETE RESULTS
Friday’s leading results at the Pontiac GMC Cup alpine skiing competition :
Giant slalom
Men: 1. Jake Baker, U.S., 2:01.97; 2. Jonathan Hadley, Britain, 2:02.61; 3. Sean Alexander, Calgary, 2:02.69; 4. Cory Canart, Beaumont, Alta., and Benjamin Thomsen, Invermere, B.C., 2:02.77; 6. Morgan Pridy, Whistler, B.C., 2:02.91; 7. Stanislas Rey, Whistler and Luca Moretti, Italy, 2:03.27; 9. Kristopher Shampeny, U.S., 2:03.36; 10. Christian Conner, Edmonton, 2:03.70.
Women: 1. Sandra MacDonald, Summerland, B.C., 2:12.80; 2. Andrea Bliss, Edmonton, 2:13.16; 3. Nicole Poleschuk, Calgary, 2:13.33; 4. Calindy Ramsden, West Vancouver, and Tatum Monod, Banff, Alta., 2:13.64; 6. Jessica Young, Calgary, 2:14.05; 7. Leslie Brenner, Banff, 2:14.40; 8. Harriet Miller- Brown, New Zealand, 2:15.10; 9. Amanda MacDonald, U.S., 2:15.12; 10. Brynne Benbow, Whistler, 2:15.60.
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Information
Janice Avon
Pontiac GMC Cup