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Janyks top Nor Am podiums

Canadian skiers net Nor Am Cup titles While the World Cup season came to a close in Italy, the Nor Am Cup contest was also wrapping up with a men’s competition at Mont Tremblant, Quebec and a women’s competition at Georgian Peaks, Ontario.

Canadian skiers net Nor Am Cup titles

While the World Cup season came to a close in Italy, the Nor Am Cup contest was also wrapping up with a men’s competition at Mont Tremblant, Quebec and a women’s competition at Georgian Peaks, Ontario. Both venues hosted two slalom and two giant slalom races.

When all was said and done, Rossland’s David Anderson – the winner of the Nor Am downhill and super G titles – claimed his first Nor Am Cup championship title with 828 points. As one of the top two racers in Nor Am Cup disciplines, Anderson will have a guaranteed berth in both downhill and super G on the World Cup circuit next season.

He’s been there before. Anderson was climbing the ranks on the national team until he was injured at the Olympics in 2002 when he hit a winch cat cable. He missed almost all of the following season, and returned this year to start again from square one.

"It’s been a great Nor Am season for me, and I’m looking forward to ripping it up on the World Cup circuit next year," said the 23 year old.

Although Anderson’s title gave the team a boost, not everything went smoothly. Whistler Mike Janyk, who was on pace to win the slalom title and start on the World Cup circuit next year, made a critical error in his first run to finish near the back of the pack. Although he made up for it in his second run he only finished 28 th , and was relegated to third in the slalom standings.

"It’s really too bad. The points were all so close for the overall, I just missed the World Cup spot by a hair. (U.S. skier James) Cochran hiked too in the first run, just not as bad. He started before me, so if I’d known that I could have skied a little more safe," said Janyk.

Cochran finished 19 th in the race, but earned enough points to finish second in the slalom standings.

The Canadians in the top-10 of the last race were Julien Cousineau of Lachute, Quebec in fourth, Francois Bourque of New Richmond, Quebec in sixth, Nick Zoricic of Toronto in eighth, Trevor White of Calgary in ninth and Whistler’s Scott Hume in 10 th .

American Ted Ligety took the slalom title and final race of the season with 339 points. Cochran had 272 and Janyk 255.

In the final women’s slalom Brigitte Acton of Sault Ste-Marie was third, which put the 18-year-old third in the slalom standings and third in the overall points – just shy of a World Cup berth of her own. She was followed in the race by Anna Goodman of Pointe-Claire, Quebec in fourth and Julie Langevin of Mont Tremblant, Quebec in ninth.

The day before was a banner day for Whistler skiers with siblings Britt and Mike Janyk both finishing on the podium. Britt took the gold medal in her slalom race, edging out Kaylin Richardson of the U.S. and Acton.

It was Britt’s third Nor Am Cup victory in as many days, as the 23-year-old claimed gold in both giant slalom races as well.

"Racing is all about putting two runs together and even though I’m not used to skiing at this level I was still nervous today," said Britt.

"Overall I’m happy with the race and I feel I skied my best. I was nervous going in to the second run as I was five-tenths (of a second) out but I really wanted to come back and take the win."

She was joined in the top-10 by Gail Kelly of Ste-Anges de Beauce, Quebec, Sara-Maude Boucher of St-Denis de Brompton, Quebec and Julie Langevin.

Mike Janyk was third behind James Cochran and Chip Knight of the U.S. He was followed by Ryan Semple of Ottawa in fourth, Julien Cousineau in fifth, Michael Tichy of North Vancouver in eighth and Nick Zoricic in 10 th .

In the giant slalom, Acton and Cousineau claimed the titles, earning World Cup births in that discipline.

"It’s very motivating to be starting World Cup," said Acton, who won the title with 358 points after finishing third in the second giant slalom event of the weekend. She finished behind national team skiers Britt Janyk and Sophie Splawinksi of Montreal. Anna Prchal of Outremont, Quebec was fifth, Kelly VanderBeek of Kitchener, Ontario was ninth and Sara-Maude Boucher was 10 th .

In the men’s GS, Francois Bourque was second behind Chip Knight of the U.S. Jean-Philippe Roy of Ste-Flavie, Quebec was third. Cousineau was sixth, Vincent Lavoie of Cap Rouge, Quebec seventh, and John Kucera of Calgary eighth.

In the first day of racing Canadian women took the top-five spots in the GS, with Britt Janyk in first, Acton second, Splawinski third, Boucher fourth and Emilie Desforges fifth.

In the men’s first GS, Ryan Semple of Ottawa was the top Canadian in fifth, followed by J.P. Roy, Julien Cousineau, Michael Janyk, Brad Spence and Anderson to round out the top-10.

For complete results from the Nor Am Cup finals, visit www.canski.org.