Gagnon wins 3rd time, Read joins family legacy

Marie-Michele Gagnon went three for four at the Sport Chek Alpine Canadian Championships winning for the third time in four races taking the women’s giant slalom easily at Whistler on Wednesday (March 27). In the final men’s slalom Erik Read collected his first win and can add the trophy to a massive collection owned by his family. He is the third generation to win a Canadian crown, starting with his grandmother, Dee Burden, 65 years ago.

Gagnon won the super G and slalom earlier in the week and was second in the downhill. She said conditions were sketchy as transforming in mid course as the bright sun worked its magic on the hill.

“The second run was definitely a lot softer. It was pretty inconsistent. Some turns were amazing. All of a sudden you were ripping for six turns and then it was really soft. I was kind of all over the place but I was lettig the skis go and always bringing it down the hill.”

Marie-Pier Prefontaine was the second fastest on the day and said she was glad to be in the same area with Gagnon. “I had a good second run,” she said. “My goal was to beat Mitch (Gagnon) for the run, but I was six hundredths short. Still. … “

She said after having been around the edges of the podium she was glad to close out the championships with a medal. Downhiller Larisa Yurkiw posted third.

Read’s win was quality. He took the first run by a large margin and hung tough in nasty conditions to record the second fastest second run and snare the historic win. Not only did his grandmother win the ’48 Dominion Championship, his uncle Jim won several in multiple disciplines and his father is legendary “Crazy Canuck” Ken Read and his mother, Lynda Robbins, also owns a title.

He was humble in victory. “The first run definitely knocked  out a lot of the field and I skied clean and solid the whole way. Second run I knew there were two guys nipping at my heels so I went for it and I think everyone made a few mistakes but I came out on top.”

Sasha Zaitsoff was fastest in the second run and got the silver medal spot while Julien Cousineau was third.

Three team skiers announced retirement: Ryan Semple, Patrick Biggs and Trevor White. Jean-Philippe Roy retired following the slalom and Kelly VanderBeek took a ceremonial last run in the super G.

“It’s been a fantastic week,” Phil Bernier, Alpine Canada’s director of events, said at the conclusion of this year’s Sport Chek Alpine Canadian Championships. “The weather Gods co-operated and Whistler Blackcomb gave us a lot of support from the mountain and the Weasel Workers did a fantastic job. They’ve executed one of the higher quality race series we’ve had in a long time.”
 
Nigel Loring, of Whistler Mountain Ski Club, said he was delighted Whistler was able to stage its first downhill race since the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
 
“We’ve had beautiful weather, beautiful support from Whistler Blackcomb, the sponsors, all the volunteers, the Weasel Workers. Just an incredible turnout here and it’s so great to see the Canadian Championships back here in Whistler,” Loring said. “It’s a big thrill for myself and Rob Boyd, who actually set the course, to have (a downhill). We’ve been dreaming about this for a long time.”

Alpine Canada photo

Whistler, BC (CAN)
National Championships
Ladies’ Giant Slalom
March 27, 2013

Whistler, BC (CAN)
National Championships
Men’s Slalom