Norwegian skiers sweep all four events on Day Two of Whistler Cup

Norwegian skiers sweep all four events on Day Two of Whistler Cup{mosimage}Norway, the defending Nations Cup champion of the Sierra Wireless Whistler Cup races for J III’s and J IV’s, had a golden day on April 3, earning top honors in all four events at Whistler Mountain, British Columbia.

In women’s action, Norwegian racers Lotte Sejerstedt and Kristina Riis-Johannessen took first and second in the women’s Kinder 1 (J IV’s, 11 and 12) giant slalom race, with American Devin Delaney in third. U.S. skiers Joelle Chevalier and Jeanna Kantor finished fifth and sixth, respectively. Ashley Stamp was next for the U.S. in 14th. For Canada, Madison Irwin was seventh, Shannon Campbell ninth and Byrnne Benbow 10th.

In the women’s Kinder 2 (J III’s, 13 and 14) slalom, first and second again went to Norway, with Nina Loeseth laying down the fastest two-run time at 1:25.07, and teammate Thea Grosvold earning silver in 1:26.75. Friday’s super G winner Anna Fenninger of Austria took bronze in the slalom, her favorite event.

Kiley Staples in ninth was the top finisher for the U.S., and Eliane Duquet led the way for host Canada in 10th.

In men’s race action, Norwegian Jorgen Brath took the gold in the K1 giant slalom, laying down the fastest time of the one-run GS at 48.47 seconds. American Taylor Wunsch finished second in 49.24 seconds, leading five U.S. skiers into the top 10, while Italian Rocco Delsante took bronze in 50.24. Also for the U.S., Michael Radford was fifth, Cody Unicume sixth, Nick Daniels seventh and Michael Ankeny 10th.

Richard Long finished eighth to record Canada’s only top-10 finish, with teammate Michael Welton finishing 11th. Welton was joined in the top 15 by three other racers, including Erik Read, son of Canadian team alums Ken Read (now head of Alpine Canada) and Lynda Robbins Read.

In the K2 men’s slalom, Norway’s Andreas Haug and Markus Nilsen took first and third, with Austria’s Armin Triendl finishing second. Nolan Kasper in fifth was the top U.S. finisher, with Tommy Ford eighth and Lane Shipley ninth. The top Canadian was Brandon Mudryk in sixth.

“I think what makes Norwegians so fast is that we train almost every day,” said Haug, who is attending his first Whistler Cup. “It is a great event. Today I just wanted to do a good job. Of course I’m happy to win, but I didn’t expect to. The faster I go, the happier I am, so downhill and super G are my favorite events.”

Austrians win super G’s on opening day

The Whistler Cup began on Friday with the K2 skiers (13 and 14) racing a super G under bright sunshine and blue skies.

In the women’s race, Austria’s Fenninger had the fastest run 1:13.57. Norway’s Loeseth was second, while Austrian Stefanie Wopfner was third.

The best Canadian result came from Georgia Simmerling in sixth, with Valerie Beland seventh and Marie-Michele Gagnon in ninth. The U.S. had four skiers in the top 15: Kelsey Roddick in 12th, Alice McKennis in 13th, Kelsey Collins 14th and Kiley Staples 15th. Just 0.14 seconds back in 16th was U.S. skier Micaela Holland.

The sun continued to warm things up all morning, creating softer snow conditions for the men’s super G, which kicked off around noon. Once again, the top spot went to an Austrian, with Marcel Hirscher laying down the fastest men’s run at 1:11.41 in his first trip to the Whistler Cup. Norway’s Haug was second in 1:11.72, while Austrian Armin Triendl finished third in 1:12.58.

“The course is very fast, very good,” said Salzburg resident Hirscher, adding he wouldn’t mind being back here in 2010 to compete at the Olympic Games.

Alex Jones was tops for the U.S. in seventh, with Lane Shipley ninth, Stephen Buzbee 10th and Tommy Ford 15th. The day’s top Canadian, and the only top-10 finisher, was Braden Long. Dustin Cook was 12th, while Mark Syrovatka wound up 13th.

The Whistler Cup continues on April 4 with the K2 giant slalom and the K1 slalom.

Sierra Wireless Whistler Cup

Whistler, British Columbia

Women’s K2 (13-14) Super G

April 2, 2004

1. Anna Fenninger, AUT, 1:13.57

2. Nina Loeseth, NOR, 1:13.67

3. Stefanie Wopfner, AUT, 1:13.93

4. Jana Gantnerova, SVK, 1:14.07

5. Thea Hovde, NOR, 1:14.21

6. Georgia Simmerling, British Columbia, 1:14.75

7. Valerie Beland, Quebec, 1:15.54

8. Klara Krizova, CZE, 1:15.69

9. Marie-Michele Gagnon, Quebec, 1:15.71

10. Thea Grosvold, NOR, 1:16.08.

Men’s K2 (13-14) Super G

April 2, 2004

1. Marcel Hirscher, AUT, 1:11.41

2. Andreas Haug, NOR, 1:11.72

3. Armin Triendl, AUT, 1:12.58

4. Markus Nilsen, NOR, 1:12.98

5. Jonathan Nordbotten, NOR, 1:13.26

6. Max Franz, AUT, 1:13.64

7. Alex Jones, USA, 1:13.99

8. Braden Long, Ontario, 1:14.76

9. Lane Shipley, USA, 1:14.89

10. Stephen Buzbee, USA, 1:15.04

Women’s K1 (11-12) Giant Slalom

April 3, 2004

1. Lotte Sejerstedt, NOR, 0:50.59

2. Kristina Riis-Johannessen, NOR, 0:50.78

3. Devin Delaney, USA, 0:51.08

4. Kino Sugo, JPN, 0:51.62

5. Joelle Chevalier, USA, 0:51.85

6. Jeanna Kantor, USA, 0:52.69

7. Madison Irwin, Ontario, 0:52.83

8. Sen-Hyun Kim, KOR, 0:53.01

9. Shannon Campbell, Ontario, 0:53.17

10. Brynne Benbow, British Columbia, 0:53.19.

Women’s K2 (13-14) Slalom

April 3, 2004

1. Nina Loeseth, NOR, 1.25.07

2. Thea Grosvold, NOR, 1:26.75

3. Anna Fenninger, AUT, 1:27.08

4. Thea Hovde, NOR, 1:27.62

5. Stefanie Gantnerova, Slovakia, 1:28.28

6. Jana Gantnerova, Slovakia, 1.29.24

7. Elisabeth Rottensteiner, AUT, 1:30.10

8. Nikola Galfvova, Slovakia, 1:30.84

9. Kiley Staples, USA, 1:31.11

10. Eliane Duquet, Quebec, 1:31.14.

Men’s K1 (11-12) Giant Slalom

April 3, 2004

1. Jorgen Brath, NOR, 0:48.47

2. Taylor Wunsch, USA, 0:49.24

3. Rocco Delsante, ITA, 0:50.24

4. Johan Raeder-Haakonsen, NOR, 0:50.39

5. Michael Radford, USA, 0:50.58

6. Cody Unicume, USA, 0:50.79

7. Nick Daniels, USA, 0:51.17

8. Richard Long, Ontario, 0:51.33

9. Won-Jun Kim, KOR, 0:51.74

10. Michael Ankeny, USA, 0:51.95.

Men’s K2 (13-14) Slalom

April 3, 2004

1. Andreas Haug, NOR, 1:23.05

2. Armin Triendl, AUT, 1:23.76

3. Markus Nilsen, NOR, 1:24.61

4. Marcel Hirscher, AUT, 1:24.67

5. Nolan Kasper, USA, 1:26.69

6. Brandon Mudryk, Alberta, 1:26.89

7. Antoine Morneau-R., Quebec, 1:27.11

8. Tommy Ford, USA, 1:27.18

9. Lane Shipley, USA, 1:27.30

10. Braden Long, Ontario, 1:27.40.