Four Canadians qualify to race in World Cup finals
The last weekend of World Cup racing came and went for the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, and like a lot of weekends this season there was something for the young team to celebrate.
This time is was Vincent Lavoie of Cap Rouge, Quebec who posted a career-best result in the super G and his second-best result in the downhill at Kvitfjell, Norway.
After a solid downhill training run, where he was clocked at almost 130 kilometres per hour, Lavoie had a solid race run that saw him finish 23 rd , just half a second out of the top-10 in a closely contested race. His previous best was a 22 nd place finish at Lake Louise in December.
"I had some sections that werent as fast as what I skied them in training," said Lavoie. "I definitely had bigger expectations for today, but this is still my second-best downhill result this season."
The race went to Austrias Stephan Eberharter, who claimed the overall World Cup downhill title with his performance. He was followed by his teammate Fritz Strobl. Third place went to Antoine Deneriaz of France.
The only Canadian to participate in the last World Cup speed races of the season, Lavoie put in another solid performance in the super G on Sunday, finishing a career-best 20 th . He was poised to finish even better, but made a costly mistake in the middle section of the course that slowed him up just before a flat section.
Daron Rahlves of the U.S. took the super G gold medal, followed by Bjarne Solbakken of Norway and Austrias Hermann Maier.
With the regular World Cup season wrapped up, four Canadians will be headed to Sestrieres, Italy for the World Cup finals. Only the top-25 in each discipline qualify for the finals, and injuries were costly to the Canadian team this year.
Canada will be represented by Canmores Thomas Grandi on the mens side, and on the womens side by Fernies Emily Brydon, Nanaimos Allison Forsyth and Val-Morin, Quebecs Genevieve Simard.
Whistlers Britt Janyk just missed the cut in the giant slalom, finishing 29 th in the final standings after making a comeback from knee surgery early in the season. Erik Guay of Mont Tremblant, who was second in a World Cup downhill this season, finished 28 th despite the fact that he was injured in December and hasnt raced since then.
Simard also missed qualifying in the GS, finishing 28 th in that discipline. She will race in the super G final.
The discipline standings heading into the World Cup finals:
Mens Downhill
1. Stephan Eberharter, Austria
2. Hermann Maier, Austria
3. Daron Rahlves, USA
No Canadians qualified.
Womens Downhill
1. Renate Goetschl, Austria
2. Hilde Gerg, Germany
3. Carole Montillet, France
11. Emily Brydon, Fernie, B.C.
Mens Super G
1. Hermann Maier, Austria
2. Daron Rahlves, USA
3. Bjarne Solbakken, Norway
Womens Super G
1. Renate Goetschl, Austria
2. Carole Montillet, France
3. Hilde Gerg, Germany
10. Genevieve Simard, Val-Morin, QC
21. Emily Brydon, Fernie, B.C.
Mens Giant Slalom
1. Bode Miller, USA
2. Kalle Palander, Finland
3. Massimiliano Blardone, Italy
13. Thomas Grandi, Canmore, AB
Womens Giant Slalom
1. Anja Paerson, Sweden
2. Maria Jose Rienda Contreras, Spain
3. Denise Karbon, Italy
15. Allison Forsyth, Nanaimo, B.C.
Mens Slalom
1. Rainer Schoenfelder, Austria
2. Kalle Palander, Finland
3. Benjamin Raich, Austria
10. Thomas Grandi, Canmore, AB
Womens Slalom
1. Anja Paerson, Sweden
2. Monika Bergmann-Schmuderer, Germany
3. Marlies Schild, Austria