WHISTLER, BC (March 2, 2009) – Sixteen-year-old Mike Turnbull (Oakville, ON) from Georgian Peaks Club in Ontario won today’s men’s slalom at the Pontiac GMC Canadian J1 Championships, his second victory in a row to open the men’s competition.
Turnbull, a second year J1, won today’s race handily in a two-run combined time of one minute 33.12 seconds on a day that started with a heavy rain but gradually progressed to see sunny breaks.
“We were glad to see the weather clear up for the men’s first run in the morning. I was lucky starting second in the first run because the track was still clean and in great shape,” said Turnbull, who lead after today’s opening run.
“I was thinking about a podium finish in the slalom today, but not really about a win. After leading the first run I was definitely nervous at the start of the second run. It’s great to get another win and I’m hoping for Top 5 in the super-G tomorrow. It’s been a really good event so far and I think they’ve done a good job on the snow considering all the crazy weather,” he added.
Dylan Fisher-McCarney (Toronto, ON), also from Georgian Peaks, finished second in a time of 1:34.40 with Banff Alpine Racer Dylan Ross (Canmore, AB) third in 1:35.00.
Samantha Bisnaire (Toronto, ON), the slalom winner at last season’s President’s Choice Canadian K2 Championships, made it a sweep of the top spot for Georgian Peaks today, winning the ladies slalom with a two-run total of 1:40.53.
“My results haven’t been that great lately so I started 17th, just out of the top seed, in the first run. Also, I haven’t raced with most of these girls before and I had no idea how I would compete against them or how well I could do,” said Bisnaire.
“I was really surprised to see that I was fourth after the first run. I had a lot more confidence starting the second run and I knew I had to stick with it, not give up and do all the things my coaches have been telling me to do,” she added.
Celine Rytz (Calgary, AB), of the Fernie Alpine Ski Team, came in second in a time of 1:40.81 followed by American Vanessa Berther in 1:41.19.
Second place Rytz, a member of the BC Alpine J1 Development Team, was not happy with her morning run, which took place in the pouring rain. "It was really lousy and it made me mad." she told us. "Slalom is my specialty and I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well in this discipline. I knew I was better than that run, but I was holding back a little, I think because of all the rain.
"My goggles were foggy in the start", she added. "And every time I hit a gate the rain splashed back in my face. I couldn’t see much at all. I really believe the girl who won the first run is the person who trusted herself the most."
The schedule for tomorrow won’t be official until after tonight’s team captain’s meeting but it’s anticipated that both men’s and ladies super-G’s will be run.
Women’s Slalom Top 15
1 17 BISNAIRE Samantha 1993 CAN 49.84 50.69 1:40.53
2 8 RYTZ Celine 1992 (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 51.51 49.30 1:40.81
3 12 BERTHER Vanessa 1992 USA 49.78 51.41 1:41.19
4 59 PATTERSON Mackenzie 1993 (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 51.12 50.45 1:41.57
5 5 MCMAHON Victoria 1992 CAN 50.43 51.35 1:41.78
6 21 MICHALIK Victoria 1993 CAN 51.87 50.13 1:42.00
7 11 LESSARD Katherine 1992 CAN 51.10 51.88 1:42.98
8 6 RITCHIE Brodie 1992 CAN 50.88 52.88 1:43.76
9 1 KRIESE Kandace 1992 CAN 54.08 49.86 1:43.94
10 18 TIMOSHENKO Elyse 1993 AUS (WMSC) 53.11 51.28 1:44.39
11 31 MOE-LANGE Yina 1993 DAN 53.33 51.17 1:44.50
12 32 GIBSON Kaitlyn 1993 CAN 53.21 51.93 1:45.14
13 20 LANCTOT-LEROY Pascale 1992 CAN 53.13 52.33 1:45.46
14 22 LAMOUREUX Alexina 1993 CAN 53.09 52.52 1:45.61
15 33 BAUDINET Jacqueline 1993 CAN 53.65 52.34 1:45.99
Men’s Slalom Top 15
1 2 TURNBULL Mike 1992 CAN 47.08 46.04 1:33.12
2 8 FISHER MCCARNEY Dylan 1992 CAN 48.85 45.55 1:34.40
3 4 ROSS Dylan 1992 CAN 48.30 46.70 1:35.00
4 15 PHILP Trevor 1992 CAN 50.31 45.75 1:36.06
5 9 GERVAIS Alex 1992 CAN 49.62 46.46 1:36.08
6 12 MORRIS Spencer 1993 (WMSC) 49.35 46.75 1:36.10
7 13 SUTTON Brandon 1992 CAN 49.61 46.67 1:36.28
8 16 SCHUESSLER BEDARD William 1993 CAN 50.20 46.19 1:36.39
9 21 SMITH Trace 1992 USA 50.05 46.52 1:36.57
10 6 WELTON James 1992 CAN 49.17 47.90 1:37.07
11 1 PIKE Samuel 1992 CAN 49.98 47.28 1:37.26
12 25 SPENCE Devin 1993 (Big White Racers) 50.59 47.31 1:37.90
13 41 KWONG Daniel 1993 (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 51.10 47.01 1:38.11
14 24 BOUCHER Tommy 1993 CAN 51.79 46.47 1:38.26
15 26 BIGSBY Adam 1992 CAN 51.07 47.38 1:38.45
LIVE TIMING for the Pontiac GMC Canadian J1 Championships is available through Split Second.