Canadians wrap up tech titles

By Published On: March 27th, 2014Comments Off on Canadians wrap up tech titles
Mike Janyk celebrates his final slalom run before retiring. Scott Brammer

Mike Janyk celebrates his final slalom run before retiring. Scott Brammer

WHISTLER, Canada — World Cup winner Marie-Michele Gagnon completed a sweep of the North American slalom titles with a dominant performance at the Sport Chek Canadian Championships in Whistler, B.C. – winning Tuesday’s race by more than two seconds to claim the 11th national title of her career.

Gagnon, of Lac-Etchemin, Que., won the U.S. nationals slalom over the weekend by just one one-hundredth of a second but secured the double with plenty to spare on Tuesday after winning both runs. Gagnon – who is ranked sixth in the world in slalom and had a stellar 2013-14 season, racking up more than 500 World Cup points overall and claiming her first World Cup victory – put on a masterclass in difficult conditions.

“Having a Canadian championship is always a good title. It’s a cool thing, for sure,” said Gagnon, who has national titles in slalom, giant slalom, super G and super combined. “There was a lot of snow and it made it pretty soft. Challenging conditions today.”

Gagnon has more Canadian titles than any other active racer and despite being only 24, she’s already a veteran, leader and a role model on a young women’s team. Retired Whistler racer Britt Janyk had 15 Canadian titles, while Nancy Greene – who retired at 24 – had 17.

“It’s good to be here and to show the girls what it takes to be on the World Cup, so they know what World Cup skiing looks like,” said Gagnon, adding that the difference between junior racers and established seniors is not always as great as you might expect. “I met a few girls on the chair and stuff – it’s nice to know they have been following our season.”

Gagnon, who clocked a two-run combined time of one minute, 45.27 seconds, led a 1-2-3 sweep of Canadian World Cup slalom skiers, with Britt Phelan, of Mont-Tremblant, Que., finishing second (1:47.53) and Erin Mielzynski, of Collingwood, Ont., finishing third (1:47.59). Development team racer Laurence St-Germain, of St. Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que. (Club de ski Mt-Sainte-Anne/ Ski Québec Alpin), was the top U21 in sixth (1:50.50), while fellow development team athlete Stephanie Gartner, of Calgary, Alta. (Fernie Alpine Ski Team/B.C. Alpine) was the top U18 in eighth (1:52.90).

It took a while for the results of the men’s giant slalom to be confirmed, but when the dust settled Tuesday night, Tyler Werry was named the 2014 Canadian GS champion. Heavy snowfall interfered with the timing system, and official results were delayed as a result.

The Calgary, Alta., racer from BC Alpine – who was invited to train with the national development team this season – recently won the super G NorAm Cup title, which means he has a guaranteed World Cup spot in that discipline next season. He has been in fine late-season form and was also second in downhill at the Canadian Championships on Saturday. Heavy snowfall played havoc with the live timing system but after results were checked Tuesday night, Werry was declared the winner with a two-run combined time of 2:38.94.

Fellow development team racer Ford Swette, a native of North Vancouver, B.C., who skied with the Whistler Mountain Ski Club and BC Alpine, was second in 2:40.25, and Erik Read was third in 2:40.78.

On Wednesday, Mike Janyk called time on his 14-year career with the national ski team during an entertaining farewell run in his hometown of Whistler, B.C., dressed in Lederhosen and smiling from ear to ear.

The 32-year-old three-time Olympian announced that he would retire at the end of the season and he made a last-minute decision to do so dressed in traditional Bavarian attire given to him by the town of Kirchberg, Austria – where the Canadians have a training base – after he won bronze at the world championships in 2009.

During the final day of competition in Whistler, Janyk’s teammate and fellow slalom specialist Paul Stutz, of Banff, Alta., also announced his retirement, while Marie-Pier Prefontaine, of Saint-Sauveur, Que., was crowned giant slalom champion and Read successfully defended his slalom title.

“I’m retired. That’s it,” said Janyk, shortly after his final slalom run. “The Lederhosen thing was kind of last minute. It was fun – I enjoyed it.

“I was going to race it and then I was like, ‘You know what, I’m done.’ My plan was to ski the first run hard but then I straddled the third gate and had to hike back up to finish. (Fortunately) they let me slide in at 31 in the second run. I stopped in a few places and high-fived (coaches and friends) Kip Harrington and Nick Cooper.”

Janyk, Canada’s most successful male slalom skier since Thomas Grandi, is from a ski racing family and grew up chasing his older sister Britt – a retired 15-time Canadian champion – down the slopes of Whistler. In addition to his world championship medal, the four-time national slalom champion was also second at the 2006 World Cup race in Beaver Creek, USA. He decided shortly before the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games that this season would be his last.

Janyk’s teammate Stutz, who has been racing independently for several years, announced that Wednesday’s slalom would also be his last. Stutz made his World Cup debut in Kitzbuehel, Austria, in 2004, and had a career-best seventh-place World Cup finish on the same hill in 2008.

“I know, without a doubt, that the timing is right. I’ve had a wonderful career,” said Stutz, who was eighth in Wednesday’s race. “I’m really happy with all my achievements and so thankful for what the sport has given me.

“My favourite memories are of my teammates – just sharing today with Mike was very special. I’ve been doing this for a long time and all the friendships, all the bonds I’ve made, all the life lessons along the way … I’m very, very happy to be where I am right now.

“I’m excited to say I’m getting married in August and I’m moving into a real estate career, which I’m really excited about.”

Before Janyk made his final run in Lederhosen, Read wrapped up his second straight slalom title with a two-run combined time of one minute, 54.33 seconds. The talented young racer was second after the first run and won the second one to take top honours. His Canadian Alpine Ski Team teammate Phil Brown, of Toronto, Ont., was second (1:55.16), while development team racer Chris Steinke, of Chelsea, Que. (Club Mont-Ste-Marie/Ski Québec Alpin) was third (1:56.51) as well as the top U21. Raphael Quenneville (Mont-Saint-Marie/Ski Québec Alpin) was the top U18 in 15th.

Meanwhile, in the women’s giant slalom, a racer who is accustomed to being the bridesmaid at nationals but never the bride finally scooped her first Canadian title. Prefontaine had eight podiums at nationals prior to Wednesday but no victories.

“My first win, finally,” said a delighted Prefontaine, who often finds herself finishing behind her teammate Gagnon, one of the world’s best technical skiers. “I started No. 1 and it was really rough. I struggled to get down but I didn’t really lose any speed anywhere.

“I was happy Mitch (Gagnon) skied the second run. I wanted to win this with her being in the race – it means so much more. It’s a good way to end the season, for sure.”

While Prefontaine clocked a two-run combined time of 2:43.53 to take the win, Gagnon, of Lac-Etchemin, Que., was second in 2:44.64 after a tough first run. Development team racer Mikaela Tommy, of Wakefield, Que., was third (2:44.91) and the top U21. Fellow development team racer Valerie Grenier, of Mont-Tremblant, Que. (Club de ski Mont-Tremblant/Ski Québec Alpin) was the top U18 in fourth (1:22.41).

Release courtesy of Alpine Canada

 

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