(from ACA News)
NAKISKA, ALTA. (March 27, 2011) – Marie-Michèle Gagnon completed a hat-trick of national super-combined titles Sunday with a dominant performance at the GMC Canadian Championships.
The 21-year-old from Lac-Etchemin, Que., finished almost 1.5 seconds ahead of her nearest rival with a combined time of one minute, 40.52 seconds in Nakiska, Alta.
It’s the third straight super-combined Canadian title for the talented young skier, who finished the year ranked 15th overall in the world in super-combined. She was fastest in both the super-G (1:05.18) and the slalom (35.34) on Sunday.
“I’m happy. It’s my thing,” said Gagnon of the super-combined event. “It’s my third title. I can’t let it go to anyone!
“It’s fun to have all the girls from the team here. But as much as you are having fun, you are still competitive.”
Prospect Group skier Madison Irwin, of the Craigleith Ski Club in Ontario, was the top junior and finished second overall with a combined time of 1:41.94.
“Super-G went well – it was a fun course,” said the 19-year-old from Toronto, Ont. “In slalom, you could see everyone go down. It was intimidating because there were some girls ripping it.
“I’m thrilled. I hope to keep things going down the path they are going. I hope to ski well, ski hard, ski fast. And I hope that’s good enough for a good result.”
Rounding out the podium was Marie-Pier Préfontaine, of Saint-Sauveur, Que., who had a combined time of 1:42.10.
“This morning I had an OK run in super-G. I just went for it in the slalom,” said Préfontaine, who has been battling illness this week. “I’m happy with the podium.”
Whistler’s Britt Janyk was second fastest in the super-G and had a lot of fun racing the slalom, an event she hasn’t skied competitively for some time. She even had to borrow slalom equipment from teammate Eve Routhier.
“I haven’t done much slalom recently,” said Janyk, who finished fourth overall with a combined time of 1:42.50. “I’m more nervous at the top of a slalom course than a downhill. But it was good to run the super-G and get ready for tomorrow.”
Hugues Ansermoz, head coach of the ladies’ team, enjoyed the battle between Janyk and Gagnon in the super-G, and the tough competition in the slalom portion of the race.
“We know we have some really good slalom skiers,” he said. “Everybody was attacking – it was pretty impressive.”
The races continue on Monday with a super-G for the ladies and super combined for the men. The GMC Canadian Championships will run until March 31st at Nakiska Ski Resort in Kananaskis.
Men’s Super-G (Men’s Super-G)
1 1 FRISCH Jeffrey CAN TREMB SR 01:02.9
2 5 COOK Dustin CAN MARIE SR 01:03.2
3 7 HUDEC Jan CAN BANFF SR 01:03.5
4 6 FRANK Chris USA SR 01:03.6
5 9 PRIDY Conrad CAN WHIST SR 01:03.8
6 14 READ Erik CAN BANFF J2 01:04.0
7 12 ZAITSOFF Sasha CAN REDMT SR 01:04.0
8 2 THOMSEN Benjamin CAN WINDR SR 01:04.0
9 8 SWENSSON Joe USA SR 01:04.2
10 4 BROWN Philip CAN ASA J2 01:04.3
11 3 SANDVIK Eian NOR SR 01:04.4
12 10 NELLA Tyler CAN GEORG SR 01:04.5
13 19 HALBERT Kelby CAN TSCBM SR 01:04.6
14 13 PRIDY Morgan CAN WHIST SR 01:04.6
15 24 SOLOMON Andrew CAN ALPIN J2 01:04.9
Other BC Results:
27 26 WERRY Tyler CAN FERNI J2 01:05.8
29 30 THOMPSON Broderick CAN WHIST J1 01:05.9
32 15 LEDUC Mathieu CAN MTWAS SR 01:06.0
36 43 SWETTE Ford CAN WHIST J2 01:06.4
55 69 SEGER Brodie CAN WHIST J1 01:07.4
60 56 RAMSDEN Blake CAN WHIST J1 01:07.7
76 83 COOKSON Bryan CAN VERNO J1 01:09.8
79 64 FRY Steven CAN REDMT J2 01:10.3
81 66 LLEWELLYN Austin CAN GROUS J1 01:12.0
DNF 67 CARRY Roger CAN FERNI J2 DNF
Women’s Super Combined (COMPLETE RESULTS)
1 8 GAGNON Marie-Michele ORIG SR 01:05.2 35.34 01:40.5
2 10 IRWIN Madison CRAIG J2 01:05.7 36.28 01:41.9
3 3 PREFONTAINE Marie-Pier CHANT SR 01:05.8 36.32 01:42.1
4 22 JANYK Britt WHIST SR 01:05.2 37.26 01:42.5
5 11 MCLEISH Madison ASA J2 01:06.0 36.87 01:42.9
6 12 ROTH Julia DEVGL J2 01:05.8 38.08 01:43.9
7 9 STEVENS Victoria EQSQA SR 01:06.3 37.98 01:44.3
8 5 PHELAN Brittany TREMB J2 01:09.0 35.51 01:44.5
9 13 IRWIN Stephanie BANFF SR 01:07.7 36.92 01:44.6
10 15 VALLERAND Laurence EQSQA J2 01:07.8 37.58 01:45.3
11 14 DAVIES Tess BANFF J2 01:07.0 38.52 01:45.6
12 21 GOAD Emily OSLER J2 01:08.3 38.22 01:46.6
13 35 MOORE Kelly TREMB J1 01:09.0 37.57 01:46.6
14 33 TURNER Andrea NATC J1 01:08.1 39.14 01:47.3
15 24 HEMPHILL Mary Beth OSLER J1 01:08.1 39.24 01:47.4
Other BC Results:
20 30 RAMSDEN Jocelyn CAN WHIST J2 01:08.7 40.06 01:48.7
21 46 LEROUX Sofi CAN WHIST J1 01:08.4 40.53 01:48.9
22 29 DARLINGTON Kailee CAN WHIST J1 01:09.1 39.9 01:49.0
27 32 WELLS Alix CAN PGEOR J1 01:09.1 41.72 01:50.8
28 43 BERMEL Rebecca CAN NSTAR J1 01:09.9 41.41 01:51.3
20 49 FIELD Charley CAN WHIST J1 01:10.4 41.25 01:51.6
31 38 PETIT Alix CAN REVEL J1 01:10.5 41.45 01:52.0
35 41 HONSBERGER Jamie CAN FERNI J1 01:12.8 42.65 01:55.5
38 54 TRIVANOVIC Una CAN REDMT J2 01:14.1 43.15 01:57.2
39 37 RYTZ Chantal CAN FERNI J1 01:15.1 42.97 01:58.1
40 52 SPEARIN Cassandra CAN VERNO J2 01:13.0 45.68 01:58.7
42 50 DURWARD Elizabeth CAN MTWAS J2 01:13.6 47.99 02:01.5
DNF 7 ELLIOT Sarah CAN BIGWH J2 01:06.0 DNF DNF
DNF 4 RYTZ Celine CAN FERNI J2 01:08.0 DNF DNF
Women’s Super-G (COMPLETE RESULTS)
1 8 GAGNON Marie-Michele 1989 CAN 1:05.18
2 22 JANYK Britt 1980 CAN 1:05.24
3 10 IRWIN Madison 1991 CAN 1:05.66
4 3 PREFONTAINE Marie-Pier 1988 CAN 1:05.78
5 12 ROTH Julia 1993 CAN 1:05.81
6 11 MCLEISH Madison 1992 CAN 1:06.00
7 7 ELLIOT Sarah 1992 CAN 1:06.03
8 9 STEVENS Victoria 1990 CAN 1:06.34
9 14 DAVIES Tess 1991 CAN 1:07.03
10 2 CLARKE Devon 1994 CAN 1:07.16
11 6 MIELZYNSKI Erin 1990 CAN 1:07.32
12 13 IRWIN Stephanie 1990 CAN 1:07.71
13 15 VALLERAND Laurence 1992 CAN 1:07.77
14 4 RYTZ Celine 1992 CAN 1:08.03
15 24 HEMPHILL Mary Beth 1994 CAN 1:08.12
Other BC Results:
19 46 LEROUX Sofi 1994 CAN 1:08.41
21 30 RAMSDEN Jocelyn 1993 CAN 1:08.67
26 32 WELLS Alix 1995 CAN 1:09.08
27 29 DARLINGTON Kailee 1994 CAN 1:09.10
31 43 BERMEL Rebecca 1994 CAN 1:09.85
36 49 FIELD Charley 1995 CAN 1:10.39
38 38 PETIT Alix 1994 CAN 1:10.55
47 41 HONSBERGER Jamie 1995 CAN 1:12.82
48 52 SPEARIN Cassandra 1993 CAN 1:13.05
49 50 DURWARD Elizabeth 1993 CAN 1:13.55
51 54 TRIVANOVIC Una 1993 CAN 1:14.08
55 37 RYTZ Chantal 1994 CAN 1:15.13