WHISTLER, B.C. (April 8, 2011) – Five Canadian skiers made it on to the podium Friday as the host nation got off to a solid start in the Whistler Cup.
Team Canada’s Roni Remme, of Collingwood, Ont., was second in the K2 women’s super-G, while fellow Team Canada skier Gregory Kofman, of Toronto, Ont., was the top Canadian in the men’s super-G, finishing sixth overall.
In the K1-age group events, Canadian skiers finished first and second in the women’s kombi, and second and third in the men’s kombi.
Here’s a summary of the top results from day one of the Whistler Cup, presented by Rio Tinto Alcan.
K2 women’s super-G: Remme’s silver lining
Remme, a member of the National Ski Academy in Collingwood, flew the flag for Canada by taking second place in the women’s super-G.
The 15-year-old reveled in the atmosphere, as members of Team Canada cheered each other on at an event that features 450 skiers from 25 different countries.
“It was a pretty exciting event for all of us. We had a good day and we are all pumped,” said Remme, who clocked a time of one minute, 6.14 seconds. “I had a plan going in and I feel like I did what I was planning to do. You always want to be on the top of the podium but I’m happy with my result. The course was awesome and I’m very happy with the way I’m skiing.”
The USA’s Dani Brownell-Patty won the race in 1:05.88, while Austria’s Marie-Therese Sporer was third (1:06.53).
“I had some great help at the start. All my teammates were yelling for me,” said Brownell-Patty, 15, from Colorado. “I wanted to finish without any regrets and I think I did that. It was really fun. It’s an amazing competition.”
K2 men’s super-G: Cayman calling
Dean Travers is from a country known more for its beaches and beautiful coastline than its alpine skiers.
But the younger brother of Dow Travers, who became the Cayman Islands’ first Winter Olympian when he competed in alpine skiing at the 2010 Games in Vancouver-Whistler, is happy to be representing the Caribbean nation at the Whistler Cup.
“It’s great,” said Travers, 14, after winning the men’s super-G with a time of 1:04.57. “I didn’t really make any mistakes – it was the perfect run.”
Travers, who trains in Aspen, Colorado, was born in the Caymans and followed his older brother onto the ski hill.
“I was third here two years ago and getting gold feels great,” he said.
Kofman was the top Canadian. The 15-year-old Team Canada skier, who is generally stronger in the technical events, was sixth with a time of 1:05.94.
“It was pretty good,” said the Craigleith Ski Club athlete. “I could have been a little more aggressive but I’m not complaining. Super-G is not my best event but today was awesome. It’s been a great experience.”
K1 men’s kombi: Top Canadian surprises himself
Alex Uryga’s coach told him he had a shot at securing a spot on the podium in the kombi event, but the 12-year-old from Vancouver, B.C., wasn’t so sure.
“I had a great run but I’m really surprised,” said Uryga, who was second with a time of 41.21 seconds. “I never thought I could do it in kombi.”
The kombi event features a course that could be described as a combination of giant slalom and slalom – some of the gates are close together and others further apart.
New Zealand’s Jackson Wells was the winner, with a time of 41.03, and Canada’s Ryan Moffat rounded out the podium by finishing third in 41.28.
“At the top I was kind of all over the place and I had to throw my leg out to make a gate, but after that I got into the flow,” said Moffat, 12, who skis out of Big White, B.C. “I’m really happy.”
K1 women’s kombi: Canucks dominate
Local skier Laura Swaffield led Canada to a 1-2 finish in the women’s kombi.
The 13-year-old from Vancouver, B.C., won by almost half a second (42.50). In second place was fellow Canuck Amelia Smart, of Vernon, B.C. (42.95).
“It was really fun. I was skiing pretty smooth,” said Swaffield. “It’s my home hill so that kind of helps.
“I was kind of nervous at the start but this feels great. I still can’t believe it.”
Smart, also 13, wasn’t totally happy with her run but loved the atmosphere and was delighted to finish second.
“I’m pretty excited,” she said. “I think it’s really cool to see all the skiers from different countries.”
The action continues Saturday with the K1 and K2 women’s giant slalom, and the K1 and K2 men’s slalom.
WHISTLER CUP – K2 WOMEN’S SUPER-G (UNOFFICIAL RESULTS)
1 23 BROWNELL-PATTY Dani USA1 1:05.88 (1)
2 1 REMME Roni CAN1 1:06.14 (2)
3 3 SPORER Marie-Therese AUT1 1:06.53 (3)
4 2 HUDSON Piera NZE1 1:07.12 (4)
5 35 CURRIE Lizzie CAN1 1:07.53 (5)
6 39 STEEVES Kelly CAN2 1:07.74 (6) (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
7 17 BOULANGER Elyse CAN1 1:07.86 (7)
8 15 JOHNSON Breezy USA1 1:07.91 (8)
9 8 CAMKOVA Veronika CZE1 1:08.00 (9)
10 9 BERTANI Luisa ITA1 1:08.20 (10)
WHISTLER CUP – K2 MEN’S SUPER-G (UNOFFICIAL RESULTS)
1 13 TRAVERS Dean CAY1 1:04.57 (1)
2 3 MOONEY Ryan USA1 1:04.82 (2)
3 49 LEBEL James USA2 1:05.30 (3)
4 6 BONARDO Paolo ITA1 1:05.42 (4)
5 36 MORSE Sam USA1 1:05.72 (5)
6 35 KOFMAN Gregory CAN1 1:05.94 (6)
7 59 WILSON Cody USA3 1:06.39 (7)
8 42 NOCKER Clemens AUT1 1:06.46 (8)
9 31 LADNER Marco AUT1 1:06.74 (9)
9 56 LUNDIN Travis USA3 1:06.74 (9)
WHISTLER CUP – K1 WOMEN’S KOMBI (UNOFFICIAL RESULTS)
1 9 SWAFFIELD Laura CAN1 42.50 (1) (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
2 7 SMART Amelia CAN1 42.95 (2) (Vernon Ski Club)
3 2 PARKER Kathryn AUS1 42.96 (3)
4 13 HROMCOVA Petra SVK1 43.19 (4)
5 10 OHKOSHI Saya JPN1 43.38 (5)
6 15 ALFONSO Ella CAN2 43.56 (6) (Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club)
7 16 SMITH Gabrielle CAN3 43.98 (7) (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
8 5 DRAGICEVIC Laura CRO1 44.23 (8)
9 14 PATTERSON Soleil CAN2 44.61 (9) (Red Mountain Racers)
10 23 ARSENEAU Marissa CDE1 45.22 (10)
WHISTLER CUP – K1 MEN’S KOMBI (UNOFFICIAL RESULTS)
1 12 WELLS Jackson NZE1 41.03 (1)
2 27 URYGA Alex CAN3 41.21 (2) (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
3 9 MOFFAT Ryan CAN1 41.28 (3) (Big White Racers/Kelowna Ski Club)
4 3 GUERRERO Hermogenes CHI1 41.44 (4)
5 54 BERNARD Simon BCQ 41.61 (5) (Fernie Alpine Ski Team)
6 19 PIROZZI Roberto CHI1 41.73 (6)
7 13 MOE-LANGE Peter DAN1 42.17 (7)
8 21 HORWITZ Kai CHI1 42.37 (8)
9 25 HICKS Callum CAN2 42.42 (9) (Revelstoke Ski Club)
10 33 KIRSHENBLATT Max BC1 42.44 (10) (Whistler Mountain Ski Club)
Watch LIVE TIMING
COMPLETE OFFICIAL RESULTS may not be immediately available.
LIVE TIMING: Follow the Whistler Cup via live timing, at http://canski.live-timing.com/
ABOUT THE WHISTLER CUP: The Whistler Cup, presented by Rio Tinto Alcan, is an international event for ski racers aged 11 to 15. In its 19th year, it features 450 skiers from 25 countries. World Cup winners who have participated in years past include Canada’s Erik Guay and Britt Janyk, plus international stars including Slovenia’s Tina Maze, Sweden’s Anja Paerson and Benjamin Raich, of Austria. For more information about the Whistler Cup, visit: http://canski.org/whistler-cup or www.whistlercup.com