BC Ski Team Shines at Aspen Nor-Am Cup Downhill
Difficult conditions were not going to stop West Vancouver’s Georgia Simmerling (Grouse Tyee Ski Club) from doing what she had to do today – win a Nor-Am downhill race! Simmerling clinched the gold decisively in one minute, 43.08 seconds. BC Ski Team racer Sarah Freeman (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) followed up Sunday’s winning training run with a solid third place finish in 1:43.46. Julia Roth of Ontario took second spot with a time of 1:43.33.
"My training runs were better than the times reflected because I was on some very slow skis," said Simmerling following her win Monday. "Today I focused on my skiing and not on the times from training. Speedy (women’s team coach Aaron Speden) worked his heart out on my skis and thanks to him they were very fast. Conditions today were more challenging. The track was bumpier, speeds were up and the light was extremely flat. The people who made it down had to be in a really solid position on their skis. It takes a little something extra to get the job done when you have a combination of high speeds and flat light. Glad I was able to get it done today!"
Sarah Freeman, who was third overall and second on the J1 podium, is still riding high after competing at the Junior World Championships in Switzerland.
"I knew I could be right up there, so I’m pretty stoked about finishing third today," said Freeman. "I think the mileage and the confidence I got from going to the World Juniors have really helped me. I learned how to charge it. I have to say, after coming first in yesterday’s training run, I was a little more nervous than usual in the start today. Obviously I handled the nerves pretty well."
Conrad Pridy (BC Ski Team/Whistler Mountain Ski Club) was the fastest Canadian down the men’s track today, stopping the clock at 1:38.95.
"I did something a little different today and it seemed to work." said Pridy. "My training runs were good and I knew that with race wax I could increase my speed in the course without changing my skiing. So on race day, instead of trying harder, I decided to relax, trust myself and duplicate what I had done in training."
Ben Thomsen of Invermere and the Windermere Valley Ski Club, who has recently been enjoying success, fame and glory on the World Cup circuit, flew in to Aspen late last night and after one training run in the morning, competed on very little sleep. All things considered, Thomsen did well to finish 10th in Monday’s downhill!
Tuesday offers another chance at a Nor-Am Cup Downnhill Competition – Follow LIVE TIMING
Watch Georgia Simmerling’s Gold Medal Run HERE
Nor-Am Cup Downhill, February 14, 2011
Women Top-15
1 8 SIMMERLING, Georgia CAN 89 SR 1:43.08 (1)
2 1 ROTH, Julia CAN 93 J-1 1:43.33 (2)
3 2 FREEMAN, Sarah CAN 92 J-1 1:43.46 (3)
4 5 FORD, Julia USA 90 SR 1:43.51 (4)
5 3 THORBURN, Pamela GBR 86 SR 1:43.66 (5)
6 4 WALES, Brooke USA 90 SR 1:43.71 (6)
7 7 STAPLES, Kiley USA 89 SR 1:44.02 (7)
8 9 IRWIN, Stephanie CAN 90 SR 1:44.59 (8)
9 26 MCLEISH, Madison CAN 92 J-1 1:44.62 (9)
10 11 GHENT, Abby USA 92 J-1 1:45.40 (10)
11 14 WILES, Jacqueline USA 92 J-1 1:45.69 (11)
12 23 BERTHER, Vanessa USA 92 J-1 1:45.70 (12)
13 24 DUFF, Noah USA 93 J-1 1:45.75 (13)
14 22 STAPLES, Sydney USA 93 J-1 1:46.16 (14)
15 18 MICHALIK, Victoria CAN 93 J-1 1:46.82 (15)
Other BC Girls
16 19 RYTZ, Celine CAN 92 J-1 1:47.50 (16)
Men Top-15
1 2 MAPLE, Wiley USA 90 SR 1:37.58 (1)
2 1 BIESEMEYER, Thomas USA 89 SR 1:38.45 (2)
3 28 FISHER, Erik USA 85 SR 1:38.52 (3)
4 9 PRIDY, Conrad CAN 88 SR 1:38.95 (4)
5 16 GRANSTROM, Colby USA 90 SR 1:39.42 (5)
6 21 GREGORAK, Will USA 90 SR 1:39.48 (6)
7 20 COCHRAN-SIEGLE, Ryan USA 92 J-1 1:39.60 (7)
8 11 TROW, Andy CAN 91 J-1 1:39.73 (8)
9 17 HUDEC, Jan CAN 81 SR 1:39.81 (9)
10 4 THOMSEN, Benjamin CAN 87 SR 1:39.99 (10)
11 6 COOK, Dustin CAN 89 SR 1:40.16 (11)
12 5 HALBERT, Kelby CAN 90 SR 1:40.18 (12)
13 10 NELLA, Tyler CAN 88 SR 1:40.29 (13)
13 19 NYMAN, Steven USA 82 SR 1:40.29 (13)
15 25 BROWN, Philip CAN 91 J-1 1:40.34 (15)
Other BC Boys
17 13 WERRY, Tyler CAN 91 J-1 1:40.70 (17)
27 7 PRIDY, Morgan CAN 90 SR 1:41.78 (27)
DNF LEDUC, Mathieu CAN 90 SR DNF
DSQ ZAITSOFF, Sasha CAN 90 SR
COMPLETE OFFICIAL RESULTS (when available)