Emily Brydon takes three Canadian national titles

By Published On: March 21st, 2005Comments Off on Emily Brydon takes three Canadian national titles

Emily Brydon takes three Canadian national titles{mosimage}MONT-SAINTE-ANNE (Québec), March 19, 2005 Canada’s top female ski racers traded their long speed boards for short skis today as they competed for the slalom title at the 2005 Pontiac GMC Canadian Championships. Britt Janyk from Whistler, the defending champion, faced tough competition on Mont-Ste-Anne’s Beauregard piste, as 80 of the nation’s best technical skiers ventured down a rolly course and faced increasingly soft snow. Emily Brydon, from Fernie (BC), the winner of this week’s downhill and super G at the 2005 Pontiac GMC Canadian Championships, took Janyk by surprise by winning both slalom runs and clinching her third consecutive national title.

Brydon – a speed specialist – proved she can still carve short skis by winning both slalom runs at the 2005 Pontiac GMC Canadian Championships today. Brydon completed her race in 1:39.87, becoming the first Canadian female skier to win three titles in the same year since the first official Canadian Nationals held in 1967. Brydon edged Whistler’s Britt Janyk who crossed the finish line with a combined time of 1:40.45. Canadian Alpine Ski Team athlete from Mont-Tremblant, Brigitte Acton, skied to 3rd place with a time of 1:42.95.

« As I entered the course this morning, I knew I could win, I wanted to win’ admitted Brydon. ‘Although I don’t participate in too much slalom events, it really is my passion. I don’t train as much in technical disciplines because my program is more speed-oriented. But to win today is definitively incredible, » said the 24 year-old athlete. « I had a lot to prove in slalom and I didn’t expect a third title today. It’s really is a dream come true since I succeeded in a very strong technical field today; the girls were so skilful, » concluded Brydon.

« I’m very happy with the way I skied today’ said today’s 2nd place finisher, Britt Janyk. ‘Both of my runs were good and clean but I think Emily was faster at the bottom of the course, » commented the silver medallist. « At the start, I was so relax, we were joking the whole time. It really feels good to end the season this way and though I’m mentally tired, I really did good today.»

Acton, the top junior of the day said: « I’m very happy with the way I skied today. I am physically and mentally tired but I concentrated on my technique and my two runs felt good. I only had two days off this winter and I’m so pleased with the way I ended my slalom season. I can’t wait for the GS event.»

Abbi Lathrop from the United States was in 3rd place after the first run.
However, the three Canadians managed to block top American from accessing the podium. Gail Kelly from Le Relais Ski Club (QC), also defended her home turf, clinched the 5th best time overall and the last best Canadian spot in the top 10.

The athlete from the Beauce region in Quebec who’s focused primarily on giant slalom this season, was very pleased with her result. « It’s my first slalom of the year and I was very excited this morning. I think slalom is like golf, the less you practice, the better you get because you don’t always think about things you have to improve. I had no clue I would clinch the Top-5.»

Four members of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team were also recognized during the award ceremony and drove away with new Pontiac GMC vehicles. As an incentive to Canada’s elite alpine racers, General Motors of Canada provides the keys to a new Pontiac or GMC vehicle for one year to any skier who wins a World Cup gold medal or finishes the season ranked among the top ten in any discipline.

Thomas Grandi, from Canmore (AB), who captured World Cup gold and ignited national pride by making history as the first Canadian man to win a Giant Slalom in Alta Badia, Italy and repeated the win three days later at Flachau, Austria, was presented with the keys to a new GMC Canyon.

Geneviève Simard, from Val Morin (QC), once again qualified to drive away in a GMC Yukon Denali with her fifth place finish in the overall World Cup standings in giant slalom.

Also finishing in the top ten in the 2004-2005 World Cup rankings in the women’s combined are Emily Brydon of Fernie, (Overall World Cup ranking – 3rd in the combined) and Brigitte Acton, from Mont-Tremblant, (Overall World Cup ranking – 10th in the combined). The two athletes have yet to choose their car models.

Thanks to the Internet, more than 200 individuals logged on www.canski.org to view today’s race results live. The remainder of the 2005 Pontiac GMC Canadian Championships will be webcasted live on:
https://www.acapoints.ca/e/html/results/e_live.asp.

This evening the 2005 Pontiac GMC Canadian Championships will showcase an exciting Provincial Dual race at Mont-Ste-Anne. This race begins at 6 p.m.
and total of $ 5,000 will be awarded following the event. Last night, Canada walked away with victory in the Nation’s Cup over the United States.
More than 300 ski enthusiasts watched the race on site.

The men will compete in the 2005 Pontiac GMC Canadian Championship slalom tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.

TOP- 10

1 12 105997 SR BRYDON Emily CAN 0:47.21 0:52.66 1:39.87
2 6 106022 SR JANYK Britt CAN 0:47.24 0:53.21 1:40.45
3 4 106527 J2 ACTON Brigitte CAN 0:48.33 0:54.62 1:42.95
4 19 537359 SR LATHROP Abbi B USA 0:49.24 0:54.79 1:44.03
5 17 105884 SR KELLY Gail CAN 0:49.64 0:54.43 1:44.07
6 5 537360 SR LATHROP Jenni T USA 0:47.39 0:56.80 1:44.19
7 3 537672 SR LITTMAN Julia USA 0:49.04 0:55.29 1:44.33
8 21 537817 J2 LYONS Katie USA 0:49.88 0:54.65 1:44.53
9 18 305962 SR HANAOKA Moe JPN 0:48.86 0:56.00 1:44.86 10 10 537988 J2 CARTMILL Alyssa USA 0:49.78 0:55.17 1:44.95

EVENTS TO WATCH OUT FOR ON MARCH 20, 2005 :
* 9:30 – Men’s slalom – Pontiac GMC Canadian Championships (Mont-Ste-Anne)

EVENTS TO WATCH OUT FOR ON MARCH 21, 2005 :
* 9:30 – Women’s giant slalom – Pontiac GMC Canadian Championships
(Mont-Ste-Anne)

TELEVISED RACE ACTION AVAILABLE ON SATELITTE Mars 19, 2005: 17:15 – 17:30 Eastern – Slalom (W) Mars 20, 2005: 17:15 – 17:30 Eastern – Slalom (M) Mars 21, 2005: 17:15 – 17:30 Eastern – Giant Slalom (W) Mars 22, 2005: 17:15 – 17:30 Eastern – Giant Slalom (M)

SATELLITE COORDINATES
Satellite: Anik F2, C-band
Transponder: 5B
Frequency uplink: 6125 horizontal
Frequency download: 3900 vertical
Audio: 6.8 & 6.2

Share This Article

About the Author: Pete Rugh