Nor-Am: Nakiska wrap up

After a nearly one-month break, the Nor-Am Cup got back into the swing of things with some men’s and women’s gate racing Jan. 31 – Feb.5 in Nakiska, Canada.

The ladies went first with a pair of giant slaloms. American Kristen Mielke took day one’s race, followed by teammate Laurenne Ross. Canadian Victoria Whitney rounded out the podium in third.
 
There were no repeats on the podium the following day as Canadians Marie-Michele Gagnon and Shona Rubens finished one, two. American Julia Ford joined them on the podium in third.

Gagnon now stands number one in the Nor-Am GS standings, followed by Mielke in second and Rubens in third.

The men were then added to the mix with a couple slalom races that saw some non-North Americans on the podium. Norwegians Truls Ove Karlsen and Petter Brenna finished first and third, respectively, on the first day of races. American David Chodounsky filled the gap in second.  

Karlsen did it again the following race, taking the top spot over Canadians Ryan Semple in second and Scott Barrett in third.

Rubens was back on the podium with a victory in the first women’s slalom. Teammate Eve Routhier followed in second, with American Sterling Grant in third.

It was Grant with the win the following day with her first Nor-Am Cup victory of the season. Routhier was back in second, and American Kiley Staples grabbed her third Nor-Am podium of the year in third place.

Grant and Staples now stand at the top of the women’s Nor-Am slalom standings in first and second, respectively.  

After a nearly one-month break, the Nor-Am Cup got back into the swing of things with some men’s and women’s gate racing Jan. 31 – Feb.5 in Nakiska, Canada.

The ladies went first with a pair of giant slaloms. American Kristen Mielke took day one’s race, followed by teammate Laurenne Ross. Canadian Victoria Whitney rounded out the podium in third.
 
There were no repeats on the podium the following day as Canadians Marie-Michele Gagnon and Shona Rubens finished one, two. American Julia Ford joined them on the podium in third.

Gagnon now stands number one in the Nor-Am GS standings, followed by Mielke in second and Rubens in third.

The men were then added to the mix with a couple slalom races that saw some non-North Americans on the podium. Norwegians Truls Ove Karlsen and Petter Brenna finished first and third, respectively, on the first day of races. American David Chodounsky filled the gap in second.  

Karlsen did it again the following race, taking the top spot over Canadians Ryan Semple in second and Scott Barrett in third.

Rubens was back on the podium with a victory in the first women’s slalom. Teammate Eve Routhier followed in second, with American Sterling Grant in third.

It was Grant with the win the following day with her first Nor-Am Cup victory of the season. Routhier was back in second, and American Kiley Staples grabbed her third Nor-Am podium of the year in third place.

Grant and Staples now stand at the top of the women’s Nor-Am slalom standings in first and second, respectively.  

The men topped it all off with a pair of giant slaloms Feb. 4-5. Canadian Brad Spence took the first win ahead of countryman Jean-Philippe Roy in third and American Jake Zamansky in second.

Roy and Zamansky took a step up the next day finishing first and second, respectively. Kalrsen got back on the podium in third.

The tour then headed to Mammoth Mountain, Cali., for speed races Feb. 5-13.

For complete results click here.