Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Norris and Benbow take top spots in Saudan Couloir

First Look: Jordy Norris inches out Robbie Dixon for first place, with ideal racing conditions
img_5375
Big time Brynne Benbow was all smiles after winning the women’s pro category of the Saudan Couloir Race Extreme on Friday, April 12.

There were ideal conditions for the Saudan Couloir Race Extreme on Friday, April 12, with bluebird visibility and snow that was just soft enough to dig an edge into.

Jordy Norris and Brynne Benbow took top spots in the men's and women's pro categories, respectively.

Norris said he felt he took a good line through the top of the course, which flows down Blackcomb's iconic double-black diamond ski run, the Saudan Couloir.

"I was kind of staying really high, and then cutting close to the gate, and going through the softer snow instead of the really chunky snow that had already been slipped out by everybody inspecting," he said, moments after learning he'd won.

Norris's unofficial finishing time—2:08.70—was a mere 0.28 seconds faster the second-place finisher Robbie Dixon, who finished with a time of 2:08.98.

Max Peiffer rounded out the top three in the men's pro category with a time of 2:13.83.

Norris added that he sat on the back of his skis, rather than doing a tuck, for the flat sections of the race.

"I would just sit on the back of my skis and just hug my skies," he said. "It's kind of more aerodynamic, I guess—and a bit of a rest."

Benbow finished with a time of 2:26.43, beating out second-place finisher Marie-Pierre Prefontaine (2:28.41) and third place finisher Erika Thomson (2:29.81).

"It was pretty awesome," said Benbow of her race experience. "I woke up this morning with a beautiful bluebird day and fresh, fresh corduroy ... It couldn't have been more perfect, and it was pretty fun."