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For Immediate Release
Taylor and Kuus Clinch Silver and Bronze Medals Respectively
Collingwood, ON (March 25, 2010) – Griffin Brown from Team USA is visibly enjoying his first racing experience in Canada. On Thursday, the young skier representing Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont, stole the show for a third race in a row by winning the men’s giant slalom at the 2010 President’s Choice Canadian K2 Championships.
Brown, who had the fastest run of the morning, completed both giant slalom runs in a time of 1:30.35.
“For the first run, I knew the pitch was steep so I focused on double pole plants to stay forward,” explained Brown. “I tried to stay above the line, move immediately after each gate and continue my double pole plants. I think it paid off."
Despite having dominated all events this week and being a force to be reckoned with on his team, Griffin has not been selected to participate in the Whistler Cup. While Team Canada will be composed of the top performers from this year’s President’s Choice Canadian K2 Championships, Team USA makes its selections for the Whistler Cup at an event called the Junior Olympics which were held earlier this month.
"Mentally the JO's were hard for me,” admitted Brown. “I wasn't there. I was too focused on making the Whistler Cup and not relaxing and performing. Here I'm relaxed, I have nothing to gain so I'm learning to execute the right moves.”
Aaron Taylor from Holimont Ski Club in Ellicotville, New York and a resident of Hamilton, Ontarion came in second place with a cumulative time of 1:31.06. Despite strong skiing, Taylor is also chasing after a seat for the Whistler Cup.
"I had a small mistake in my first run - tripping at the start,” said Taylor who has been evolving as part of the Holimont Ski Club in the USA which is located only two hours from his hometown of Hamilton.
“Overall, I skied well in my 2nd run, staying low on the pitch. The snow was fast but definitively softer than yesterday," concluded the racer who met the Team USA Whistler Cup qualification standards but is now hoping to join Team Canada for this prestigious event held every April in Whistler. Athletes participating at the Whistler Cup must represent their country of nationality.
"I qualified for Team USA by winning the giant slalom and being second overall at the Junior Olympics,” added Taylor. “These President’s Choice Canadian K2 Championships are similar to our Junior Olympics - the competition is about the same," he continued.
Karl Kuus from Devil's Glen in Ontario took home the bronze with a combined time of 1:30.44. This marked Kuus’s third medal at the President’s Choice Canadian K2 Championships, including bronze in the super G and silver in the super combined.
Sitting in fifth place after the first run, Kuus looked happy and relaxed with the final outcome from today’s giant slalom race.
"I am so happy today,” exclaimed Kuus. “My first run was awful, I was a full second out. I hit the first gate and got some air and then I was pivoting so I knew I had to step it up and charge. My second run was a bit tight, the snow a bit rough but not too bad."
Looking ahead to tomorrow's slalom at Craigleith, Kuus looked excited: "I'm ready, I just raced Craigleth in our spring series so its all perfect - I'm ready to do it!"
Today's race was the first in this competition where the snow and warm weather were factors. Prior days enjoyed incredible conditions with coaches even calling Wednesday’s race conditions for the ladies’ giant slalom the best they'd had all year. The temperature did not drop as expected last night and the race started out with +5 temperatures with regular fertilizer applications.
“So far, the effort put forth by the two race organizing committees (Osler Bluff ski club and Georgian Peaks Club) have been fantastic,” pointed out Michael Colley, Director Business Development for Alpine Canada Alpin. “Arriving in Collingwood on Sunday, one would not have thought it possible to conduct a speed event let alone 4 runs of Super G in one day. The team at Osler prepared a course for all athletes which was fair, fast and fun!”
“In the last two days, we’ve also been thrilled with the hill conditions prepared by Georgian Peaks” added Colley. “Alpine Ontario and the organizing committees have impressed all athletes, coaches and officials from the get go and all look forward to the remaining President's Choice Canadian Championships racing events,” he concluded.
A cold front is expected to move in which will ensure great racing conditions for Friday’s ultimate slalom race at Craigleith.
For complete results from today’s race, click here: http://www.k2championships.com/webconcepteurcontent63/000022510000/upload/PDFs/JuvenileChamps/mensgs2010.pdf
Friday’s Final Slalom Race, Dual Competition, Athlete Banquet and Fireworks
The 2010 President’s Choice Canadian K2 Championships will be ending on a high note on Friday with boys’ and girls’ racing action moving to Craigleith for the slalom events. Racing will be followed by the much anticipated East/West Dual under the lights followed by fireworks. Athletes, coaches, parents and volunteers will also be marking the conclusion of these championships with a banquet.
Live Timing
Want to catch the live racing action?
Live timing is being provided by ACA Points: http://www.acapoints.ca/e/html/results/e_live.asp
Please be advised that live timing display may be delayed due to an increase in the volume of users seeking GMC Canadian Championships and President's Choice Canadian K2 Championships results. The live timing provider recommends users select "Mobile Version" to reduce strain on the server. Thanks for your patience on this matter.
Photo Gallery
Visit the following site for more great pictures from today’s race: http://www.alpineontario.ca/Home/PhotoGallery/tabid/135/Default.aspx?albumid=5452243795149118641
About the President’s Choice® Canadian K2 Championships
The 2010 President’s Choice® K2 Canadian Championships are hosted at Osler Bluff, Georgian Peaks, and Craigleith Ski Resorts (ON) from March 22 to 26. As a nationally-sanctioned event, the races involve approximately 170, 13 and 14 year-old ski racers from across the country and feature girls’ and boys’ Super G, Super Combined, Giant Slalom, and Slalom titles. For more information about the President’s Choice® Canadian K2 Championships please visit the official event website at www.k2championships.com.
About Loblaw Companies Limited
Loblaw Companies Limited, a subsidiary of George Weston Limited, is Canada’s largest food distributor and a leading provider of drugstore, general merchandise and financial products and services. Loblaw is one of the largest private sector employers in Canada. With more than 1,000 corporate and franchised stores from coast to coast, Loblaw and its franchisees employ over 139,000 full-time and part-time employees. Through its portfolio of store formats, Loblaw is committed to providing Canadians with a wide, growing and successful range of products and services to meet the everyday household demands of Canadian consumers. Loblaw is known for the quality, innovation and value of its food offering. It offers Canada’s strongest control (private) label program, including the unique President’s Choice®, no name® and Joe Fresh Style® brands. In addition, the Company makes available to consumers President’s Choice Financial® services and offers the PC® points loyalty program.
INFORMATION:
Kyle Marr
Director of PR & Media Communications
Alpine Canada Alpin
Tel: (403) 777-3204
TELUS: (403) 860-0665
kmarr@canski.org
Marie-Hélène Thibeault
President’s Choice® K2 Championships
Media and Communications
Alpine Canada Alpin
Tel.: (403) 678-4806
info@k2championships.com