NAKISKA, ALTA. (March 30, 2011) – Marie-Michèle Gagnon gritted her teeth and turned on the jets Wednesday to claim the national title she coveted above all others at the GMC Canadian Championships in Nakiska, Alta.
“I really wanted this,” said Gagnon, of Lac-Etchemin, Que., who won the ladies’ giant slalom by nearly a second with a two-run combined time of one minute, 43.52 seconds.
“I knew that the one who wanted it the most would win. It’s a tight, short course. I really tried to go for it.”
Gagnon, who won the super-combined event on Sunday and was third in the super-G on Monday, won both the slalom and super-combined titles at last year’s national championships.
“Giant slalom is my best event,” said Gagnon, who finished the season ranked 16th in the world in the discipline. “But I have some good opponents here.”
Gagnon was fastest in both runs Wednesday after the race was delayed following an early morning snow slide. She took the win on a shortened course ahead of Britt Janyk, of Whistler, B.C., who had a combined time of 1:44.27.
“It was fun. It was a great race,” said Janyk, who earlier won the super-G and downhill national titles. “I’m definitely happy to be on the podium.
“On this course you’ve really got to fight for every one-hundredth. I’m feeling tired but when you get into the gate, it’s fun and I’m happy to be here.”
Victoria Stevens, 21, of Mont-Tremblant, Que., picked up her second third-place result of the week following her podium finish in the downhill on Saturday. She crossed the line with a combined time of 1:44.70.
The Prospect Group athlete, a member of the Quebec Ski Team, said the result was a pleasant surprise.
“My runs didn’t feel awesome, especially my second run,” said Stevens, who leads the Coupe GMC Cup points standings on the ladies’ side. “I didn’t ski it well so I’m a little disappointed. I really wasn’t expecting to be on the podium but it’s fun to be in there.”
Marie-Pier Préfontaine, of Saint-Sauveur, Que., was fourth in 1:44.97.
“I had a better first run but it was still not great,” said the Canadian Alpine Ski Team skier, who was third in the super-combined on the weekend but has been battling illness all week.
There was another great result for Madison McLeish, of Canmore, Alta., who was fifth in Wednesday’s giant slalom – and the top junior – with a time of 1:45.01.
Celine Rytz of the BC Ski Team (Fernie Alpine Ski Team) was the fourth fastest Junior of the day.
The Prospect Group athlete, a member of the Raymond James Alberta Ski Team, tied for first with Janyk in the super-G on Monday. Watching McLeish’s run Wednesday in Nakiska was her dad Robin, who won the national downhill title in Lake Louise, Alta., back in 1981.
Slalom racing for both genders is on the schedule for Thursday, the final day of this year’s GMC Canadian Championships.
Ladies Giant Slalom (COMPLETE RESULTS)
1 5 GAGNON Marie-Michele TREMB SR 52.16 51.36 01:43.5
2 4 JANYK Britt WHIST SR 52.45 51.82 01:44.3
3 3 STEVENS Victoria EQSQA SR 52.57 52.13 01:44.7
4 1 PREFONTAINE Marie-Pier CHANT SR 52.34 52.63 01:45.0
5 2 MCLEISH Madison ASA J2 52.66 52.35 01:45.0 (FIRST JUNIOR)
6 11 TERWIEL Elli SPAC SR 53.73 51.71 01:45.4
7 9 ROUTHIER Eve ORFOR SR 53 52.62 01:45.6
8 15 MIELZYNSKI Erin GEORG SR 54.41 52.12 01:46.5
9 7 RYLEY Kate CRAIG SR 53.6 52.98 01:46.6
10 12 ROTH Julia DEVGL J2 54.52 53.51 01:48.0 (SECOND JUNIOR)
11 19 IRWIN Stephanie BANFF SR 54.81 53.23 01:48.0
12 25 MARCIL Stephanie EQSQA J2 54.52 53.6 01:48.1 (THIRD JUNIOR)
13 27 RYTZ Celine FERNI J2 54.48 53.79 01:48.3 (FOURTH JUNIOR)
14 30 PAQUIN-RICARD Claudia EDLS J2 54.43 53.92 01:48.4
15 20 FREEMAN Sarah FERNI J2 55.58 52.85 01:48.4
Other BC Results:
20 32 YOUNG Mackensey FERNI J2 55.93 53.71 01:49.6
33 44 PETIT Alix REVEL J1 57.04 55.01 01:52.1
34 24 RAMSDEN Jocelyn WHIST J2 57.16 55.31 01:52.5
36 46 FIELD Charley WHIST J1 56.87 55.8 01:52.7
37 45 LEROUX Sofi WHIST J1 57.57 55.11 01:52.7
38 35 DARLINGTON Kailee WHIST J1 55.53 57.21 01:52.7
40 36 BERMEL Rebecca NSTAR J1 57.27 55.74 01:53.0
42 53 TRIVANOVIC Una REDMT J2 57.23 56.51 01:53.7
43 48 WELLS Alix PGEOR J1 57.46 56.46 01:53.9
50 56 JENKINSON Barbara WINDR J1 59.24 58.48 01:57.7
GMC CUP TOP CONTENDERS & POINTS AS OF MARCH 30
MEN
1. Jeffrey Frisch- 269
2. Conrad Pridy- 232
3. Simon-Claude Toutant- 192
4. Phillip Brown-185
5. Tyler Werry- 143
WOMEN
1. Victoria Stevens – 314
2. Madison McLeish- 293
3. Julia Roth- 275
4. Stephanie Irwin- 193
5. Madison Irwin- 192