Norway wins 2016 Whistler Cup for 2nd consecutive year

CALGARY, Alberta – Alpine’s next generation of World Cup hopefuls took over Whistler Mountain for the Mackenzie Investments Whistler Cup international youth race from April 1-3, 2016. Racers strapped on their speed skis for a super G race under sunny skis and warm temperatures on the opening day. 

Team Canada had a strong start in Friday’s race capturing three of six podium spots in the U16 category. 

On the ladies’ side, Norway’s Marte Monsen, age 16, claimed victory after putting down a ripper of a run despite warm weather deteriorating the track.

“It’s my first time to Whistler and Whistler Cup and it’s so great!” said Monsen. “The course was a little rough but I’m happy with my result.”

Team Canada went second and third on the ladies’ podium. Fifteen-year-old Eloise Carle was 1.15 seconds back and teammate Sierra Smith, age 16, rounded out the podium sitting 1.37 seconds off the lead time. 

“My run was good but the track was sketchy,” Carle. “The course was really beat up because of the warm weather but I’m happy with how I handled it.” 

The men, who benefited from an earlier start time, had a track that held up a bit better. 

Wilhelm Normannseth, age 15, made it a double gold day for Norway after capturing first place for the men. 

“When I came down I was very surprised that I won,” said Normannseth. “It was a hard course with big turns and I was running quite late but I managed some great turns. This is my first time at Whistler Cup and I would say it’s the greatest ski experience I’ve ever had! It’s an enormous alpine resort and I think it’s really great.”

In second place was 16-year-old Ben Richards from New Zealand, trailing by 1.33 seconds. Canada’s 15-year-old Jamie Casselman rounded out the podium after recovering from a near fall early in the race. 

“My run was good but a bit of a wild ride!” said Casselman. “I broke my pole early in the course so it was difficult to balance. I nailed a gate and it hurt quite a bit but I managed to recover. This is my fifth time at Whistler Cup and I’m excited for the rest of the weekend!”

Spring weather continued to play a factor on day two as warm temperatures wreaked havoc on the track. Thanks to the Race Organizing Committee and tireless volunteers, both races were completed. The ladies ran GS first followed by a slalom race for the men. 

Monsen from Norway led the ladies’ pack once again by 0.75 seconds over Carle, who finished in second place for the second day in a row. Japan’s Yukin Hatanaka finished in third place, trailing by 1.09 seconds. 

“It feels great to have another win today!” said Monsen. “It feels really good to be in Canada and when you’re skiing great, it’s even better. Today was tough skiing and you really had to fight all the way down.”

Fifteen-year-old Carle grew up skiing at Mont Olympia in Quebec.

“The weather today continued to be really warm making the track really rough,” said Carle. “It was still a really fun day and both the course sets were really great. Tough conditions mean you just have to fight a little harder. I’m having a really great time here at Whistler Cup and I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s slalom race. It’s my favorite discipline so I’m excited to go for it!” 

On the men’s track, British Columbia’s Casselman found the podium for a second day in a row with second place in the slalom.

“The first run was a bit slower than the second run but I put together two solid runs today,” said Casselman. “I held on for a rough second run as the conditions started deteriorating. I’m really happy with how things are going so far and I’m looking forward to tomorrow!”

Casselman finished a head-turning 4.14 seconds back from Norway’s Normannseth who claimed his second consecutive victory.

“My first run was pretty good and I stood on my outside ski the whole way down,” said Normannseth. “The second run was also good, not as good as the first but it was definitely a good run. I’m pretty happy with my results and happy to be here!”

Rounding out the podium was another Norwegian, Kaspar Kindem, who trailed the lead-time by 5.75 seconds. 

Sunday closed out the final races at the 24th annual Mackenzie Investments Whistler Cup.

Norway dominated the podium on the final day with first and third in the ladies’ race and first and second on the men’s side. 

Monsen made it three-for-three in wins in the ladies’ field.

“My race was great today. It was tough up there but it was really fun,” said Monsen. “The second run was tougher with snow and coming down in the back of the pack made it challenging. It was really awesome to be here and I’m so happy! I want to thank my coach and my mom, dad and brother.” 

Carle claimed her third silver medal for the host nation, trailing the first-place time by 3.02 seconds.

“My first run was good but the second run wasn’t so great,” said Carle. “On the third gate I almost skied out but I was able to recover. The conditions weren’t great and I was really hoping for a first-place finish today after sitting in first place after the first run.” 

In third place on the ladies’ podium was Norway’s Biance Bakke-Westhoff, 4.33 seconds back from the lead time. 

The men’s podium had two Norwegians sitting in the top spots with Jasper Kindem in first place and Normannseth in second place, sitting 0.88 seconds back from the lead time. New Zealand’s Ben Richards, 1.30 seconds behind Kindem, cashed in for third.  

“I put down the greatest run of my life in the second giant slalom run today,” said Kindem. “I’m really happy with how things have gone here and especially with today’s result.”

For the second consecutive year, Norway closed out the Mackenzie Investments Whistler Cup capturing the Nation’s Cup, as they did so in 2015. Austrian and U.S. teams declined participation in the event. 

Full results from the 2016 Whistler Cup are available here.  

Release courtesy of Alpine Canada Alpin, photo courtesy of Whistler Cup