Thomsen and Irwin take Canadian SG titles

By Published On: March 25th, 2014Comments Off on Thomsen and Irwin take Canadian SG titles
Ben Thomsen surges to the super G win. Alpine Canada/Scott Brammer

Ben Thomsen surges to the super G win. Alpine Canada/Scott Brammer

WHISTLER, Canada — Madison Irwin capped a superb comeback season Sunday (March 23) when she won the national super G title at the Sport Chek Canadian Championships in Whistler, B.C. – just a week after claiming the overall NorAm Cup crown.

The 22-year-old from Toronto, Ont., who spent last season on the sidelines due to injury, showed she’s back to her best by claiming her first national title and her third Canadian Championships podium. Thanks to a season in which she raced consistently well, she now has guaranteed World Cup spots in all disciplines thanks to her NorAm title and a huge confidence boost heading into the off-season following a strong run in Sunday’s super G.

Candace Crawford, from Collingwood, Ont. (Georgian Peaks/Alpine Ontario) – another racer having a breakout season – finished second Sunday, while Adrienne Poitras, of Montreal, Que. (Ski Québec Alpin/Mont-Tremblant) was third.

“I was looking for a national title. It’s very cool to have one – it gives you some bragging rights,” said Irwin, who clocked a time of one minute, 13.69 seconds. “The course was there to be attacked. Nobody really took off but it was a sunny day, great conditions, and I went after it.”

Crawford, a member of the national development team, is also having a strong end to her season after scooping the NorAm Cup giant slalom title at last weekend’s NorAm Cup finals in Nakiska. On Sunday, she crossed the line in 1:14.03 to take second in a very tight race. She was also the top U21 racer.

Poitras was third in 1:14.13, while development team racer Valérie Grenier, of Mont-Tremblant, Que. (Club de ski Mont-Tremblant/Ski Québec Alpin) was the top U18 in seventh.

“It was a good race and Madison had a solid run,” said women’s development coach Peter Rybarik. “There was one particular gate at the top of the pitch and a lot of girls got pushed wide. She took advantage of that and it helped her to win. It was a tight, competitive race.”

In the men’s race, the newest member of the Canadian Cowboys got his hands on his first national title Monday (March 24) as Ben Thomsen held off fellow young gun Morgan Pridy to take the super G win.

Thomsen, from Invermere, B.C., is better known as a downhiller, but after super G ace Pridy scooped that title on Saturday, Thomsen exacted some revenge Monday by producing a strong run on a fast course to secure victory.

“It has always been a goal of mine to win a national title. It’s very special,” said Thomsen, who clocked a time of one minute, 6.77 seconds. “To me, winning a national championship is a big deal. I’m very proud I was able to do it.

“I told Morgan after he won the downhill, ‘Alright, I’m going to go out and take your super G.’ ”

The Canadian Cowboys are an elite group of Canadian ski racers who have been on the podium at a World Cup, world championship or Olympic race. Thomsen joined the exclusive club in 2012 when he finished second at the Olympic test event in Sochi, Russia, and at 26, he’s the baby of a veteran group. With Canadian podium record holder Erik Guay, Olympic bronze medalist Jan Hudec and three-time World Cup winner Manuel Osborne-Paradis all absent on Monday, Thomsen edged Pridy – who was 10th in super G at the Sochi Olympics – to the title.

“It was a pretty fast super G – 1:06 is fast and that was to my advantage,” said Thomsen, who had a slow start to the 2013-14 season but has been surging since he finished 12th in the downhill in Kitzbuehel, Austria, in January, to secure his spot on the Canadian Olympic team. He was third in the downhill at the Sport Chek Canadian Championships on Saturday. “I made sure I was taking it very seriously today. I really wanted to win a national title.

“My super G has been coming along in the last couple of years. In my last one I was 22nd (in Kvitfjell, Norway), and I’ve taken that confidence into these races.”

Canadian Alpine Ski Team racer Pridy, who is from Whistler, clocked a time of 1:06.95 to take second place, with fellow national team skier Dustin Cook, of Lac-Sainte-Marie, Que., taking third (1:07.01).

“It was a really fun set today but I came across the finish a little bit upset because I knew I’d given up some time in the middle,” said Pridy, who was a member of the B.C. Ski Team alongside Thomsen. “I crossed in first but I was looking down the list (of racers) and Ben’s name was sticking out because he knows how to ski fast and this course is all about getting low and going fast.”

Last year’s super G champion Jeffrey Frisch, of Mont-Tremblant, Que., was fourth on Monday (1:07.24), with Morgan’s older brother Conrad fifth (1:07.25) and Erik Read, of Calgary, Alta. – the 2013 slalom title holder – sixth (1:07.33).

Development team racer Morgan Megarry, of Collingwood, Ont. (Craigleith Ski Club/University of Vermont/Alpine Ontario) was the top U21 in seventh (1:07.35), while Riley Seger, of Whistler Mountain Ski Club, was the top U18 in 16th (1:08.44).

Release courtesy of Alpine Canada

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