January 27, 2010 – For complete official results click HERE
APEX MOUNTAIN, B.C. – Sixteen-year-old Jocelyn Ramsden (BC Ski Team/Whistler Mountain Ski Club) learned some valuable lessons in the downhill races here earlier this week and used them to help her capture the gold medal in Wednesday’s super G at GMC Cup speed series at Apex Mountain Resort.
It was a first career medal for Ramsden on the provincial development circuit as she clocked one minute and 22.37 seconds. Alecia Willis (BC Ski Team/Whistler Mountain Ski Club) was second in 1:22.63 and Noelle Barahona of Chile third in 1:22.68.
“The downhills didn’t go as I wanted so I was really hoping to come out here and nail the super G,” said Ramsden, the 15th skier on the start list. “I knew when I crossed the finish today that I couldn’t have skied it any better. I followed the plan and didn’t panic when I picked up speed.
“When I saw I was number-one, it was a very happy moment for me.”
The medal was exactly what the doctor ordered for Willis who hadn’t finished her previous five races.
“I was pretty happy I made it down,” said Willis, 18, also with her first career medal on the circuit. “I wasn’t feeling confident lately and I hope I’ve started a new roll. Today I approached it more like a training run and it worked.”
In the men’s super G, Ben Thomsen of Invermere (Windermere Valley Ski Club) earned his third consecutive victory this week clocking 1:18.51. Cory Canart of Beaumont, Alta., was second in 1:18.97 and Mathieu Leduc of Comox (Mt. Washington Ski Club) was third in 1:19.26.
“I knew Apex was a slider hill and with the snow conditions my focus was to be light on my skis and not too aggressive,” said Thomsen, the two-time defending Western champion on the circuit. “I pushed a little too hard and made some mistakes early on but I made up for it in the bottom part of the course with some good gliding.”
Canart reached the podium for a second straight day.
“It was pretty fun,” Canart said. “The snow was pretty soft so it was pretty important not to dig in your edges too hard or else you would slow down.”
Leduc came close to reaching the podium in the previous two downhills earlier this week.
“I left everything on the course today,” said Leduc. “I was a little nervous yesterday so I just tried to stay relaxed and come out and go for it.”
The series is the brain-child of Olympic champion Nancy Greene Raine, who approached GMC more than four decades ago with the concept of creating a strong domestic ski racing series for up-and-coming Canadian alpine racers.
Thirteen of the 19 skiers nominated to the Canadian Olympic team today competed on the circuit before joining the national team.
Bruce Goldsmid, general manager of the British Columbia Alpine Ski Association says the circuit is key for the sport’s future development in Canada.
“For the last decade the Apex downhill has been the only downhill track in western Canada available to our young developing athletes. Having the support of GMC which allows our athletes to practice and learn speed skills is paramount to their future development as ski racers.”
Women’s J1 Podium
RAMSDEN Jocelyn 1993 First J1
TIMOSHENKO Elyse 1993 Second J1
DARLINGTON Kailee 1994 Third J1
Men’s J1 Podium
BELL Jeffrey 1993 First J1
LAW Michael 1993 Second J1
KWONG Daniel 1993 Third J1
Wednesday’s leading super G results at the GMC Cup alpine skiing competition at Apex Mountain, B.C.
Men: 1. Ben Thomsen, Invermere, B.C., 1:18.51; 2. Cory Canart, Beaumont, Alta., 1:18.97 ; 3. Mathieu Leduc, Comox, B.C., 1:19.26; 4. Morgan Pridy, Whistler, 1:19.36; 5. Jack Evans, Britain, 1:20.05; 6. Benjamin MacLean, Pemberton, B.C., 1:20.10; 7. Jeffrey Bell, Calgary, 1:20.79; 8. Michael Cadman, Whistler, 1:20.91 ; 9. Jorge Martinic, Chile, 1:20.91; 10. Michael Law, Cochrane, Alta., 1:21.25.
Women: 1. Jocelyn Ramsden, Whistler, 1:22.37; 2. Alecia Willis, Whistler, 1:22.63; 3. Noelle Barahona, Chile, 1:22.68; 4. Jetta Rackleff, U.S., 1:23.03; 5. Allison Larock, U.S., 1:23.69; 6. Clare Wise, U.S., 1:24.02; 7. Daniella Aberger, Revelstoke, B.C., 1:24.46; 8. Elyse Timoshenko, Australia, 1:24.51; 9. Keree Smith, U.S., 1:24.61; 10. Kailee Darlington, Whistler, 1:24.99