Whistler’s Conrad Pridy Finishes 2nd Overall In Nor-Am Cup DH Standings | BC Alpine Ski Association

MONT-SAINTE-ANNE, QUE. (March 23, 2012) – Unseasonably warm weather has forced the cancellation of several races at the 2012 alpine Canadian Championships and Audi Nor-Am Cup finals, but the battle for some key titles will still go down to the wire.

Race organizers, volunteers and other staff worked around the clock to prepare the race hills at Le Massif, Que., and Mont-Sainte-Anne, Que., for competition, but the loss of snow in the hot sun created the need for a modified schedule, which will see men’s and ladies’ slalom races held Friday through Monday.

The cancellation of speed races and the giant slalom means some Nor-Am Cup discipline titles have now been decided. But the men’s overall Nor-Am Cup title – currently led by Erik Read, of Calgary, Alta. – is still up for grabs, as are the Nor-Am Cup slalom titles and the national slalom titles. The ladies’ slalom, scheduled for Sunday, is one of the most eagerly-anticipated races of the week. It will feature World Cup stars Marie-Michèle Gagnon, of Lac-Etchemin, Que., Erin Mielzynski, of Guelph, Ont., and Anna Goodman, of Pointe Claire, Que., among others, fighting for the right to be named Canadian slalom champion.

Skiers ranked in the top two in the Nor-Am Cup standings in each disciplineearn a World Cup spot for following season in that discipline. Read finished first in the super combined standings and second in the super-G standings. The winner of the overall Nor-Am Cup title is awarded a World Cup spot in every discipline. Read leads the overall standings with 878 points, ahead of the USA’s Ryan Cochran-Siegle, who has 842 points.

It’s not the first time weather conditions have led to the cancellation of national championship races. The downhill and the super-G were cancelled in 2000 in Sun Peaks, B.C., while the super-G was cancelled in 1996. The downhill was also cancelled in 1970, 1972 and 1973.

“The snow loss was incredible – I’ve never seen that before,” said Robert Rousselle, Alpine Canada’s athletic director. “I think the race organization, Alpine Canada and everyone did the best they could. They worked day and night to get this event going, but Mother Nature took over.”

Following the cancellations, the Nor-Am Cup men’s giant slalom title was awarded to the USA’s Robby Kelley, with Trevor Philp, of Calgary, Alta., finishing second. The USA’s Megan McJames took the ladies’ giant slalom crown and Marie-Pier Préfontaine, of Saint-Sauveur, Que., was second.

The men’s downhill title went to Cochran-Siegle; Conrad Pridy, of Whistler, B.C., was second. On the ladies’ side, the USA’s Julia Ford and Abby Ghent finished first and second, respectively.