Whistler Cup: Canada takes national team title

The Whistler Cup, an international alpine ski racing event for 11-14-year-olds, concluded today in Whistler B.C., with giant slalom and combined races. With four victories today, Canada defended its home turf, winning the national team event. The U.S. claimed second, followed by Japan in third.

The men’s K2 giant slalom was taken by Finn Mikael Svensk with a time of 56.02 after one run. Teammate Max Luukko joined Svensk on the podium in third. Japan’s Shogo Arai rounded out the podium in second with a time of 56.05. The top American was the Aspen Valley Ski Club’s Bobby Moyer in ninth.

“I won this race two year’s ago as a K1 so I really wanted to come out today an perform well to match that result,” said Svensk. “To ski with everyone here and know how you are doing compared to everyone else, it’s a valuable experience.”

The Czech Republic’s Bara Strakova, winner of the super G and second in the slalom earlier this week, won the women’s K2 giant slalom nearly a half a second ahead of Topolino silver medalist Paula Moltzal of the Buck Hill Ski Club. American teammate Mikela Shifrin of the Burke Mountain Academy claimed the bronze.

Canadian Roni Remme secured the women’s K1 combined (giant slalom, slalom) race, followed by Japan’s Asa Ando in second and Canadian Emilie McNeil of the Lake Louise Ski Club in third. Remme finished third in the same discipline last year.
 
“This is a good event at the K1 level. It forces you to focus on looking ahead and planning your run to stay ahead of the course,” said Remme.

On the men’s side, it was another Canadian, Chris Doan of the Lake Superior Ski Division, with the K1 combined win. Keiya Saito of Japan took second, followed by Russian Fedor Myagkov in third. 

“This was a lot of fun. I had never been to Whistler so coming here this week I learned a lot,” Doan said. “The snow was a lot softer than it is at home where it’s usually cold and icy and the course here was a lot longer than what I am used to.”

For complete results click here.
 
 

WHISTLER, BC – APRIL 12TH, 2009 – MEN’S K2 – GIANT SLALOM
1      5    SVENSK Mikael     FIN         56.02   (1)
2      20    ARAI Shogo     JPN            56.05   (2)
3      25    LUUKKO Max     FIN          56.32   (3)
         
WHISTLER, BC – APRIL 12TH, 2009 – LADIES K2 – GIANT SLALOM
1      11    STRAKOVA Bara     CZE       55.63   (1)
2      14    MOLTZAN Paula     USA       55.84   (2)
3      10    SHIFFRIN Mikaela     USA    56.07   (3)
         
WHISTLER, BC – APRIL 12TH, 2009 – LADIES K1 – KOMBI
1      12    REMME Roni     Palgrave, ON     45.97   (1)
2      3    ANDO Asa     JPN                          46.87   (2)
3      13    MCNEIL Emilie     Calgary, AB     47.88   (3)
 
WHISTLER, BC – APRIL 12TH, 2009 – MEN’S K1 – KOMBI
1     18    DOAN Chris     Thunder Bay, ON     45.92   (1)
2    17    SAITO Keiya    JPN                             46.00 (2)
3    3    MYAGKOV Fedor    RUS                       46.57 (3)