Whistler Cup: Shiffrin, Saydek 1-2 in J4 kombi

Five American racers scaled the podium Friday at the prestigious Whistler Cup races in Canada, led by a 1-2 finish from Eastern region racers Mikaela Shiffrin and Hana Saydek in the J4 Kombi event, which combines elements of super G and slalom in one event.
    Shiffrin, racing out of Burke Mountain Academy, clocked a time of 51.54 seconds to edge Okemo’s Saydek, who finished in 52.25. Canada’s Roni Remme rounded out the all-North American podium in third. 

WHISTLER, B.C. — Five American racers scaled the podium Friday at the prestigious Whistler Cup races in Canada, led by a 1-2 finish from Eastern region racers Mikaela Shiffrin and Hana Saydek in the J4 Kombi event, which combines elements of super G and slalom in one event.
    Shiffrin, racing out of Burke Mountain Academy, clocked a time of 51.54 seconds to edge Okemo’s Saydek, who finished in 52.25. Canada’s Roni Remme rounded out the all-North American podium in third.  
    “It was a lot of fun. The kombi forces you to think a lot more so that can make it a little more challenging than some of the other events. My goal today was just to have fun with it. I was hoping for a top 10 so to be on the podium is really great,” said Remme, a first-year J4 from Alpine Ski Club in Collingwood, Ontario.
    Hughston Norton out of Heavenly in the West region finished second in the men’s J4 kombi, finishing between a pair of Canadians for another all-North American podium. Quebec’s Ėdouard Dumas-Longpré won the race in 53.21 seconds, with Norton second in 53.71 and Karl Kuus third in 53.87.
    “To be honest I made some mistakes today and wasn’t all that happy with my run,” said Dumas-Longpré, who turned 13 last month. “But there are many countries here and many good skiers, so I am pleased to have won the race. My goal today was to finish as the top Canadian.”
    Ford Swette made quick work of his home hill during the men’s J3 super G, finishing in first place in a time of 1:07.92. American Andrew Kircher of Rowmark took second, just 0.03 seconds back, and Austria’s Christian Juffinger finished third in 1:08.43.
    "This is just fantastic. I was really hoping to win today but I would have been happy even with top five because there are a lot of strong guys here,” said Swette, who finished second in the men’s super G at last week’s Canadian J3 Championships.
    “Today I was just thinking about skiing my best and I felt confident because in the past I have done well at the Whistler Cup. I seem to be able to perform well on race day, not because of pressure, but I really enjoy the intensity.”
    In the women’s J3 super G, Greta Byrne of Ski Club Vail finished runner-up, by almost a full second, to Valentina Volopichova of the Czech Republic. Austrian Ricarda Haaser took third.
    "Even though I won today, I actually don't really like super G. I really love GS and slalom,” Volopichova said. “I have a big dream and I know it will take a lot of hard work, but because I'm from the Czech Republic, I have a chance to qualify to race in the 2010 Olympics.  I just have to be in the top four in the country in any discipline and that's a real possibility for me."
    Click here for a link to complete results .