The depth on the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, development team and provincial skiers climbing the ranks to the national level was on display at Nakiska this week for the GMC Canadian Championships. Events got underway with the downhill on Monday and wind up this Sunday with the slalom.
Whistler's Britt Janyk and Manuel Osborne-Paradis posted the fastest runs on the short downhill course to take the national titles for this year. Janyk was followed by national team members Emily Brydon and Shona Rubens. Whistler's Victoria Whitney - a development team member recovering from a major crash in a Europa Cup event - placed fourth.
Other notable Whistler finishers includes Madison McLeish, 17, who was 14 th out of 52 racers.
For Janyk, it was her 12 th career national title.
"It's great," she said of the atmosphere at the nationals. "It's definitely a little bit lower stress compared to the World Cup season. And it's always nice to finish a race at home."
Despite his ability to medal at the World Cup level, Osborne-Paradis had never won a national title in any discipline before Tuesday.
"I think at the end of the year you need to muster up enough strength after the end of the World Cup season (to win a national title) and today just shows that I am maturing a little bit, that I am able to do that," he said.
Erik Guay, who won three World Cup medals in the last five days of the season, placed third, while Toronto Ski Club racer Kelby Halbert stunned the national team with a second place finish.
"Manny and Erik both won World Cups this year," said a surprised Halbert. "I just went for it, used my size, and I am really happy with the result."
Even on the second step of the podium the six-foot-eight Halbert could look Osborne-Paradis in the eye.
Whistler's Mike Janyk was a respectable 13 th in the race. While he usually focuses on slalom he skied super combined for Canada at the Olympics and will add that event to his repertoire as well.
Also from Whistler, Spencer Morris, 16, placed 25 th , Morgan Pridy 28 th , Benjamin MacLean 40 th , Broderick Thompson (15) 47 th , Alexander Binks 52 nd , Michael Cadman 60 th and Ford Swette 68 th .
The next day Erik Guay took the national super G title to go with his World Cup super G title. He was followed by Jan Hudec and Manuel Osborne-Paradis. Mike Janyk moved up to 10 th , while Conrad Pridy, racing for the B.C. Ski Team, was 12 th . Morgan Pridy was 18 th , Benjamin MacLean 19 th , Alexander Binks 22 nd , William Konantz 30 th , Ford Swette 34 th , Michael Cadman 35 th and Broderick Thompson 37 th .
The women raced the super combined the same day. Marie-Michele Gagnon took the gold, followed by Shona Rubens and Emily Brydon. Victoria Whitney was 15 th , Jocelyn Ramsden 27 th and Kailee Darlington 28 th .
Britt Janyk was sitting third after the super G run, but opted not to compete in the slalom that afternoon.
More results to follow next week.
