BANFF, Alta. – Erik Read of Banff hopes he’s put a tough 2009-2010 season behind him with his victory in the men’s giant slalom on Monday at the GMC Cup alpine skiing competition. Meanwhile BC Ski Team racer Sarah Freeman of the Fernie Alpine Ski Team experienced victory for the first time in her competitive career winning the women’s GS.
In the men’s giant slalom, Read clocked a two-run time of one minute and 49.53 seconds with Cory Canart of Beaumont, Alta., second in 1:49.67 and Mathieu Leduc of the Mt. Washington Ski Club third in 1:50.66.
Read arrived home just 24 hours before Monday’s race after three weeks in Europe which included last week’s world junior championships. He missed the first half of the season with a broken hand.
“It was nice to come back to the home hill, it definitely gave me some confidence being here,” said Read, 18, the son of Canadian skiing legend Ken Read. His mother Lynda Robbins won the GMC Cup overall title in 1979.
“Sure there was fatigue from the trip, but | made sure I was ready to go today. I was really aggressive and skied smart in the sections you needed to be strong technically.”
Leduc, 20, won both slalom races on the weekend.
“Neither run went the way I wanted,” said Leduc. “I was having a lot trouble moving properly on the course and having a hard time with the terrain. But this result hasn’t affected my confidence. I know the technique is there and I just have to put it down on race day.”
In the women’s GS, Freeman clocked one minute and 57.20 seconds over two runs with Victoria Michalik of Banff, Alta., second in 1:57.83 and Celine Rytz of the BC Ski Team and Fernie Alpine Ski Team third at 1:57.92.
“I"ve never won before…ever,” said Freeman, 17, second after the opening run. “I was just trying to keep my position in the second run, I was so nervous. I guess there was some hope I could win a race with my recent results but that was always a nerve wracking thought for me.”
Michalik, 16, was seventh after the opening run but some adjustments to her equipment helped her clock the fastest time on the second run.
“My first run was really bad and my coach did some work to my skis and that really helped,” said Michalik, who posted fifth places at the first two slalom races here on the weekend. “The course was really icy with a lot of turns and I was able to ski with more control and gave it my all.”
Rytz notched a bronze for the third consecutive race and has top-three finishes in eight of her last nine races.
“The consistency is something I’ve never had before,” said Rytz, 17. “I’m still a bit disappointed with my times, I was going for the gold today. But I’m improving and that’s what is most important at this point.”
Competition continues through to Tuesday.
COMPLETE OFFICIAL RESULTS (when available)
Monday, February 8 Giant Slalom, Men
1 READ, Erik (BAR) 1:49.53
2 CANART, Cory (Rabbit Hill) 1:49.67
3 LEDUC, Mathieu (Mt Washington) 1:50.66
4 SWETTE, Ford (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:52.00
5 MASSING, Geoffrey (Sunshine) 1:52.81
6 WERRY, Tyler (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 1:52.99
7 GOWER, Jack (SPSRC) 1:53.53
8 LAW, Michael (Banff) 1:54.42
9 BELL, Jeffrey (Carc) 1:54.68
10 GIGIC, Filip (Natc) 1:54.71
Men’s J1 Podium
1 SWETTE Ford 1993
2 GOWER Jack 1994
3 LAW Michael 1993
4 BELL Jeffrey 1993
5 GIGIC Filip 1993
Monday, February 8 Giant Slalom, Ladies
1 FREEMAN, Sarah (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 1:57.20
2 MICHALIK, Victoria (Banff) 1:57.83
3 RYTZ, Celine (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) 1:57.92
4 DARLINGTON, Kailee (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:58.06
5 CARROLL, Tianda (Easa) 1:58.23
6 TIMOSHENKO, Elyse 1:58.50
7 RAMSDEN, Jocelyn (Whistler Mountain Ski Club) 1:58.60
8 ALBOIU, Vanessa (Natc) 1:58.88
9 BARAHONA, Noelle (La Parva) 1:59.61
10 GIBSON, Kaitlyn (Fast) 2:01.57
Women’s J1 Podium
1 MICHALIK Victoria 1993
2 DARLINGTON Kailee 1994
3 CARROLL Tianda 1993
4 TIMOSHENKO Elyse 1993
5 RAMSDEN Jocelyn 1993