Keegan Sharp and Emma King finish with top times as 2010 Whistler Cup ski race gets underway
WHISTLER, BC (April 9, 2010) - It was a good start to the 2010 Whistler Cup for Canadians, with the hosts winning two of four events to open the only FIS-sanctioned international ski race of its kind in North America.
The Whistler Cup is celebrating its 18th anniversary of competition this year, bringing together the top 11 to 14-year-old (K1 and K2) ski racers in the world to Whistler, BC for the annual competition.
KING REIGNS AS QUEEN OF K2 SUPER-G
The day began with a win for fourteen-year-old Emma King (Whistler, BC) of Whistler Mountain Ski Club, who said great skiing and good advice was the key to victory in today's girls K2 super-G.
"My coaches were just telling me to ski and have fun. It's the last race of the year and there is no pressure. I just did what the coaches told me during inspection and I guess it paid off," said King, who finished in a winning time of one minute 08.22 seconds.
"I am always nervous before a race or training run. It's kind of my comfort zone. If I am not nervous then it may not be a good day," added King, who has been skiing since the age of three and began racing six years later.
The race was a nail-biter as Austria's Julia Grosshaupt finished just 0.11s behind King with USA's Mikaela Shiffrin third in 1:08.37.
INVERMERE'S KEEGAN SHARP WINS BOYS K1 KOMBI
Keegan Sharp (Invermere, BC) of Team Panorama had Canada's second victory on day on, taking today's boys K1 kombi race. Sharp admitted the international competition is a little more intimidating than the local and provincial races but he said it was something he has been easily able to manage.
"Skiers are here from all over the world. And people are always talking about how awesome this country is, or skiers from that country are. But then you race them you find that they are just like us, just from another place," said Sharp, who finished today in a time of 38.56s. "It gives me more of a drive, having people here from all over the place."
Five different countries were represented in the top five spots with Italy's Alberto Blengini finishing second in 38.64s followed by Filip Forejtek just 0.03s back in third.
MIKAYLA MARTIN FINISHES SECOND FOR CANADA
Mikayla Martin (Squamish, BC) finished second in today's girls K1 kombi race, finishing in 42.80 on her home hill.
"It was fun to race it. I know this hill upside down and backwards," said the 13-year-old Whistler Mountain Ski Club skier.
The "kombi" is an introductory ski race that combines elements of giant slalom and slalom in one race.
"There were parts that were easy and parts were hard but it was a lot of fun," said Martin of today's event.
Elisa Fornari, a 12-year-old from Italy who has yet to lose a race this season, won in a time of 42.37 with Japan's Mio Arai finishing third.
TORONTO'S KUUS ON PODIUM IN BOYS K2 SUPER-G
Slovenian Miha Hrobat won the boys K2 super-G in an impressive time of 1:06.94 with Italy's Andrea Squassino in second.
Karl Kuus (Toronto, ON) of Devil's Glen made it four Canadians on the podium in four races today, finishing in third in 1:08.04.
Kuus, who finished on the podium in all three races at the recently completed President's Choice Canadian K2 Championships in Collingwood, ON, said he was excited about coming to Whistler.
"I got a couple of good results (in Collingwood) and for sure it really pumped me up for coming here," said Kuus.
The 2010 Whistler Cup continues tomorrow with a girls giant slalom and slalom for the boys.
WHISTLER, BC - APRIL 9, 2010 - LADIES K2 - SUPER-G
|
1 |
7 |
KING Emma |
CAN1 |
1:08.22 (1) |
|
2 |
12 |
GROSSHAUPT Julia |
AUT1 |
1:08.33 (2) |
|
3 |
2 |
SHIFFRIN Mikaela |
USA1 |
1:08.37 (3) |
WHISTLER, BC - APRIL 9, 2010 - BOYS K2 - SUPER-G
|
1 |
11 |
HROBAT Miha |
SLO1 |
1:06.94 (1) |
|
2 |
1 |
SQUASSINO Andrea |
ITA1 |
1:07.73 (2) |
|
3 |
2 |
KUUS Karl |
CAN1 |
1:08.04 (3) |
WHISTLER, BC - APRIL 9, 2010 - LADIES K1 - KOMBI
|
1 |
1 |
FORNARI Elisa |
ITA1 |
42.37 (1) |
|
2 |
15 |
MARTIN Mikayla |
CAN1 |
42.80 (2) |
|
3 |
16 |
ARAI Mio |
JPN1 |
43.33 (3) |
WHISTLER, BC - APRIL 9, 2010 - BOYS K1 - KOMBI
|
1 |
22 |
SHARP Keegan |
CAN1 |
38.56 (1) |
|
2 |
12 |
BLENGINI Alberto |
ITA1 |
38.64 (2) |
|
3 |
25 |
FOREJTEK Filip |
CZE1 |
38.67 (3) |
COMPLETE RESULTS: http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?event_id=27164&cal_suchsector=AL (Today's results may not be immediately available on this site. Alternatively check live timing at http://canski.live-timing.com/)
MEDIA NOTE: To pick up media accreditation and photographer arm bands for the Whistler Cup please e-mail Janice.avon@maclaren.com.
LIVE TIMING: http://canski.live-timing.com/
WHISTLER CUP - SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
|
06.04.2009 |
Whistler, BC |
Check-in and Accreditation |
|
|
07.04.2009 |
Whistler, BC |
Check-in and Accreditation |
|
|
08.04.2009 |
Whistler, BC |
Training / Race Hill Inspection |
M & L |
|
09.04.2009 |
Whistler, BC |
K1 Kombi / K2 SG |
M & L |
|
10.04.2009 |
Whistler, BC |
K1 K2 GS (L) / K1 K2 SL (M) |
|
|
11.04.2009 |
Whistler, BC |
K1 K2 SL (L) / K1 K2 GS (M) |
|
ABOUT THE WHISTLER CUP
Hosted by the Whistler Mountain Ski Club (www.wmsc.info), the Whistler Cup is the only international ski racing event for 11 to 14-year-olds in North America. World Cup winners to have participated in the Whistler Cup include Canadians Erik Guay, Britt Janyk and Emily Brydon as well as Austria's Benjamin Raich, Slovenian Tina Maze and Anja Paerson of Sweden.
(Reposted with permission of Alpine Canada Alpin.)
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