While members of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team are favoured to win most of the Pontiac GMC Canadian Championships races this week, the series titles will go to the skiers who participated in four previous competitions. That list includes members of the national development team, provincial teams, and the top racers at the club level.
The Canadian Championships also pits the best of the east against the best of the west in a friendly rivalry. Here are the Pontiac GMC Cup standings going into the championships:
EAST DIVISION
Women
1.Emilie Desforges, Dorval, Que.
2.Brigitte Acton, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
3.Laurence Coutur, Morin Heights, Que.
4.Kristin Taylor, Montreal, Que.
5.Lauren Lattimer, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
6.Kaylyn Morton, Etobicoke, Que.
7.Meg Ryley, Toronto, Ont.
8.Maggie Pattillo, Toronto, Ont.
9.Sandrine Jean, Rimouski, Que.
10.Katelyn Button, Stouffville, Ont.
Men
1.Patrick Biggs, Neapean, Ont.
2.Adam Law, Burlington, Ont.
3.Francois Bourque, New Richmond, Que.
4.David Duncan, London, Ont.
5.Jonathan Gillham, Duntroon, Ont.
6.Luke Sauder, Cambridge, Ont.
7.Scott Barrett, Toronto, Ont.
8.Everett Findlay, Collingwood, Ont.
9.Johnny Davidson, Ottawa, Ont.
10.Christian Chedel, Ste. Adele, Que
WEST DIVISION
Women
1.Katie Fukushima, Canmore, Alta
2.Jennifer Bertram, Vancouver, B.C.
3.Shona Rubens, Calgary, Alta.
4.Stephanie McDougall, Whistler, B.C.
5.Yota Lambropoulos, Banff, Alta.
6.Emily Hamill, Calgary, Alta.
7.Rachel Walker, Whistler, B.C.
8.Katie McMillan, Prince George, B.C.
9.Whitney Cox, Edmonton, Alta.
10.Jessica Dakers, Calgary, Alta
Men
1.Brian Bennett, Quesnel, BC.
2.Trevor White, Calgary, Alta.
3.Dustin McLeay, Calgary, Alta.
4.Aaron Civitarese, Trail, B.C.
5.Caleb Dyck, Edmonton, Alta.
6.James Finlayson, Whistler, B.C.
7.Graham Kraft, Vernon, B.C.
8.Sean Cochrane, Prince George, B.C.
9.Robin Bauer, Calgary, Alta
9.Brooks Magnowski, Russell, Man.
The Pontiac GMC Cup is a developmental race series for Canada's young skiers who aspire to compete at the World Cup and Olympic level. The series was revived in 1998 after a successful run from 1969 to 1981 which developed many Canadian skiing stars such as Steve Podborski, Ken Read, Laurie Graham and Kathy Kreiner at home before they conquered European slopes.
Ski resorts in Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario hosted four series events with 16 races in downhill, super G, slalom and giant slalom. The series concludes this week at Whistler with national championship titles awarded in each discipline.
