Gagnon, Osborne-Paradis win Canadian SG titles on bulletproof track

CALGARY, Alberta – The super G at the 2016 Sport Chek Canadian Championships took place under picture-perfect skies and on a bulletproof track. The straight set allowed for high speeds on track that saw the best conditions so far this week. The super G marks the second day of championship races at Whistler Blackcomb with 38 ladies and 85 men pushing out of the start gate.

It was a banner day for Canada’s alpine racers sweeping the podium in the super G race. The ladies raced first, taking advantage of a pristine track. Coming off a two-podium season, Quebec’s Marie-Michèle Gagnon skied to her 12th Canadian Championship title.

“The track was the best I’ve seen in the last few days. It wasn’t too fast but a perfect run,” said Gagnon. “It was a nice sunny day on an easy, flowy course. I’m excited to have captured my 12th win in the Championships and I want to clean up in the rest of the races in the series!”

Young gun and up-and-coming speed superstar, Candace Crawford from Ontario, wore bib number four and skied in behind Gagnon trailing by 0.98 seconds. Quebec’s Valérie Grenier rounded out the ladies’ podium finishing in third place, 1.06 seconds back from Gagnon’s time. Grenier won the Canadian Championship downhill earlier this week.

B.C.’s Manuel Osborne-Paradis captured the men’s super G Canadian Championship title by just 0.07 seconds, exciting fans in the finish. This is Osborne-Paradis’ third championship title and first in super G. Phil Brown from Ontario traded in his usual technical gear for some speed skis, nailing his run to finish in second place.

“Super fun today skiing here in Whistler and kinda fun to be back involved in speed skiing after a tech season,” said Brown. “It’s nice to be back on the long skis and it worked out really well today!”

Rounding out the men’s podium was Alberta’s Tyler Werry sitting just 0.11 seconds back from the fastest time.

Teams of six also raced a dual slalom in the fight for the Canadian Championship Team Event trophy. On a soft course in front of excited fans, racers went heat after heat down a quick and tight slalom track. National team members Marie-Michèle Gagnon and BJ and Mac Marcoux, along with Development Team athlete Brodie Seger and provincial team athletes Heidi Roussin (Quebec) and Emma Woodhouse (Ontario) took home first place.

The 2016 Sport Chek Canadian Championships continue Sunday with the alpine athletes racing an alpine combined event.

Release courtesy of Alpine Canada Alpin

Official Ladies’ Results

Official Men’s Results