GMC CUP SERIES RACES ON AT RED MOUNTAIN FEBRUARY 25-28
Rossland, BC (February 23, 2011) – Red Mountain ski resort is preparing to host both Slalom and Giant Slalom events for the only stop in British Columbia during the Coupe GMC Cup ski series.
As a developmental ski program sanctioned by Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA) and the International Ski Federation (FIS), the Coupe GMC Cup provides the top skiers from Canada with essential competitive experience on their road to international alpine racing success. Many Cup winners and competitors have gone on to become members of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, including current members and siblings Michael and Britt Janyk of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club (WMSC), and Brad Spence of Team Panorama (Calgary, AB).
Race administrator Lora Fry is anticipating an exciting event “This series is important to our local ski racers, and this race is an important stop. We are very excited to be able to participate and bring Rossland’s alpine ski racing community together again. As always, we hope that all the competitors do well, and expect to see great results from the local athletes,” said Fry.
With just over one month until the GMC Canadian Championships in Nakiska, AB, the race at Red Mountain is a significant one, with many of the top athletes on the series scheduled to attend. The expected male talent pool is particularly deep at this event, with eight of the top ten male athletes on the series scheduled to compete.
Local Red Mountain Racer Sasha Zaitsoff (Balfour, BC), who was named to the 2011 Alpine Canada Prospect Group and recently débuted on the World Cup tour at Adelboden, Switzerland in January, is expected to perform well. Other notable male athletes on the current race list include Brandon Sutton (Thornbury, ON) and Ford Swette (Whistler Mountain Ski Club). Sutton, 19, has competed consistently well throughout this season with back-to-back top-level finishes. Swette, 18, dominated the giant slalom races at the GMC Cup opener in Lake Louise in January.
Swette is not the only WMSC athlete who has climbed the Coupe GMC Cup podium this season: fellow team member Jocelyn Ramsden is neck-and-neck with Calgary’s Vanessa Alboiu in the women’s overall cup standings. Ramsden, 18, also won back to back gold medals at the giant slalom races at Lake Louise.
Peter Cornu, General Motors of Canada’s Manager of Sponsorships, said "We have supported amateur athletes in fulfilling their dreams for many years and are pleased that the GMC Cup is part of a winning strategy focused on results. We are especially thankful to the Red Mountain Racers for their continued support with the Coupe GMC Cup race series."
The series culminates with the 2011 GMC Canadian Championships at Nakiska in Alberta from March 23-30, 2011. The best young athletes from Canada compete head-to-head against athletes from the Canadian Alpine Ski Team.
Top performers to watch out for this weekend include:
Men: Ford Swette, (Whistler, BC); Filip Gigic, (Calgary, AB); Brandon Sutton, (Thornbury, ON); Adam Gores, (Freelton, ON); Derek Alenius, (Banff, AB); Kevyn Read, (Banff, AB); David Law, (Banff, AB); Spencer Morris (Whistler, BC); Curtis McKillop, (Banff,AB); Devon Hawkins (Banff, AB).
Women: Vanessa Albiou, (Calgary, AB); Jocelyn Ramsden, (Whistler, BC); Tianda Carroll, (Whistler, BC); Nicole Poleschuk, (Calgary, AB); Catherine Wood, (Calgary,AB); Alix Wells, (Prince George, BC); Kaitlyn Verge, (Banff, AB); Kailee Darlington, (Whistler, BC); Jamie Honsberger, (Fernie, BC); Megan Henkelman, (Banff, AB); Kele Little-Devito, (Edmonton, AB); Tessa Dakin, (Edmonton, AB).
SCHEDULE OF REMAINING EVENTS (subject to change)
25/02/11– Men’s Slalom /Ladies Giant Slalom – Red Mountain, BC
26/02/11– Men’s Slalom /Ladies Giant Slalom – Red Mountain, BC
27/02/11– Men’s Giant Slalom/ Ladies Slalom– Red Mountain, BC
28/02/11– Men’s Giant Slalom/ Ladies Slalom – Red Mountain, BC