Whistler Cup: Canadians go two for four in opening races; American Shiffrin third

The 18th running of the Whistler Cup, acclaimed as the most important international race for North American alpine racers ages 11-14, kicked off today (April 9) with men’s and women’s super G and combined races featuring the brightest young talent from 24 countries.

The K2 girls (ages 13-14) were up first on the super G course as Canadian Emma King locked down the win with a time of 1:08.22. Just .11 seconds back in second was Austrian skier Julia Grosshaupt ahead of American Mikaela Shiffrin of Burke Mountain Academy in third with a time of 1:08.37.

“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 is part of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club. 
“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.”

Canadian Alix Wells and Americans Danielle Brownwell-Patty (Aspen) and Brittany Lathrop (Stratton Mountain School) also cracked the top 10, finishing 7, 9, 10.

Slovenian racer Miha Hrobat took the boy’s K2 super G with a time of 1:06.94. Italian Andrea Squassino finished second ahead of Canadian Karl Kuus in third. The top American was Park City’s Peter Papineau in sixth place.  Squaw Valley’s Max Hall finished ninth.

Canadian Keegan Sharp won the boy’s K1 (ages 11-12) combined with a time of 38.56. Italian Alberto Blegini was eight hundredths of a second back in second place ahead of the Czech Republic’s Filip Forejtek in third. The U.S. did not send a K1 team to the FIS sanctioned event.
 
“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 of Team Panorama. “It gives me more of a drive, having people here from all over the place.”



The K1 girls were tested with a combined race that saw Italian Elisa Fornari take the victory with a time of 42.37. Candian Mikayla Martin brought the host country its fourth podium of the day in second followed by Japan’s Mio Arai in third.

Races at the Whistler Cup continue tomorrow with giant slalom and slalom races.

For more information and complete results click here to visit the Whistler Cup official site.

Image of Squassino by Fabrizio Fornari

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)

2010 USA Whistler Cup Team (Name, Hometown, Club)

Men

Jack Auty, Durham, NH (Burke Mountain Academy)
Ryan Berkshire Mooney, Charlemont, MA (East/Eaglebrook School)
Kyle Burcin, Basking Ridge, NJ (Killington Mountain School)
Max Hall, Olympic Valley, CA (Squaw Valley)
Zac Kjos, La Crosse, WI (Apex Racing)
Hunter Lord, Kittery Point, ME (Burke Mountain Academy)
Nicholas Mitchell, Edina, MN (Welch Village)
Hughston Norton, Stateline, NV (Heavenly Valley Sle Educ Found)
Peter Papineau, Park City, UT (Park City Ski Team)
KJ Savaria, Hailey, ID (Sun Valley)
Mitchell Underhill, Plymouth, MN (Buck Hill)
Nicholas Veth, Arroyo Seco, NM (Taos Ski Academy)

Women

Diana Abbott, Middletown, CA (Squaw Valley)
Julia Bjorkman, Incline Village, NV (Diamond Peak)
Danielle Brownell-Patty, Carbondale, CO (Aspen)
Kelly DiNapoli, Ludlow, VT (Holderness School)
Hannah Johnson, Incline Village, NV (Diamond Peak)
Madeline Johnson, Truckee, CA (Squaw Valley)
Brittany Lathrop, S. Londonderry, VT (Stratton Mountain School)
Montana Marzario, Prior Lake , MN (Buck Hill)
Julia Mueller-Ristine, Aspen, CO (Aspen)
Alita Rogers, Huntington, VT (Mt. Mansfield Ski Club)
Mikaela Shiffrin, Vail, CO (Burke Mountain Academy)
Kendall Vanhee, Edwards, CO (Ski Club Vail)