WHISTLER, BC (February 24th, 2008) – Emily Brydon (Fernie, BC) led the Canadians in today’s TELUS Whistler Super Combined presented by UPS, putting two solid runs together to finish 10th.
Maria Riesch, who led after the super G, won the race in a two-run combined time of two minutes 10.07 seconds with Austrian Marlies Schild coming on strong in the slalom portion to grab second and Sweden’s Anja Paerson third.
Brydon, lifted by an impressive super G run that had her in third place, finished with a two-run combined time 2:11.87.
“Today, for me, it was really important to ski the super G run like it was its own race,” said Brydon. “We don’t get another super G race here before the Olympics and every girl who is going to be in the Olympics was out there today so I think that that was really important.”
Brydon said she drew a great deal of inspiration from the hundreds of cheering fans in attendance.
“It was incredible down there. I listened when Emilie (Desforges) went down and it was so neat. It was like a wave in an arena. As she went down you could hear the noise follow her. I could actually hear it too, as soon as I came over this last little pitch,” Brydon said.
Emilie Desforges (Montréal, QC) was in excellent position after the super G but was forced to hike up after a mistake part way through her slalom run. Sitting in 12th after the opening run, she wound up 29th.
“It’s disappointing because I had a very good super G run and a really good start of the slalom, and then missed that gate.
Britt Janyk (Whistler, BC), who was in seventh spot after the super G, chose not to compete in the slalom. Janyk, who has not trainined in slalom this season, said she was using the run as preparation for the Olympic races in two years.
Kelly VanderBeek (Kitchener, ON) was 26th after the opening SG and also elected not to participate in the slalom. Danielle Poleschuk (Calgary, AB) finished 33rd in the opening SG.
The TELUS Whistler Super G presented by UPS drew World Cup ski racing in Whistler, BC to a close. The Ladies now return to Europe for giant slalom and slalom races March 1st and 2nd in Arber, GER.
WHISTLER, BC – FEB. 24th, 2008 – SUPER COMBINED – LADIES
| 1 | 22 | RIESCH Maria | 1984 | GER | 1:21.49 | 48.58 | 2:10.07 |
| 2 | 19 | SCHILD Marlies | 1981 | AUT | 1:22.58 | 47.58 | 2:10.16 |
| 3 | 21 | PAERSON Anja | 1981 | SWE | 1:22.32 | 48.06 | 2:10.38 |
| 4 | 16 | HOSP Nicole | 1983 | AUT | 1:22.27 | 48.13 | 2:10.40 |
| 5 | 11 | GOERGL Elisabeth | 1981 | AUT | 1:22.62 | 48.01 | 2:10.63 |
| 6 | 17 | VONN Lindsey | 1984 | USA | 1:22.62 | 48.02 | 2:10.64 |
| 7 | 20 | MANCUSO Julia | 1984 | USA | 1:21.91 | 49.21 | 2:11.12 |
| 8 | 2 | FISCHBACHER Andrea | 1985 | AUT | 1:22.42 | 48.81 | 2:11.23 |
| 9 | 15 | AUBERT Sandrine | 1982 | FRA | 1:24.10 | 47.28 | 2:11.38 |
| 10 | 10 | BRYDON Emily | 1980 | CAN | 1:22.02 | 49.85 | 2:11.87 |
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| 29 | 1 | DESFORGES Emilie | 1983 | CAN | 1:22.73 | 1:06.18 | 2:28.91 |
Did not start second run: POLESCHUK Danielle (CAN), VANDERBEEK Kelly (CAN), JANYK Britt (CAN)
For complete results: http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/610.html?sector=AL&raceid=51144
For all the latest information on “TELUS presents the Whistler World Cup,” please visit http://www.whistler-worldcup.com/
FLASH QUOTES
Maria RIESCH (GER) 1st place
On her performance:
“I was a little bit nervous for the slalom because I went out in the downhill on Friday which was pretty tough for me because I was in a good shape and pretty fast. I didn’t want to go out maybe again and go home with fewer points and so my slalom run was maybe a little bit careful.
I have had a very good season and I’m really looking forward to the Olympics here…especially the speed tracks. I had a good downhill run except for my crash and a good super G run here. I’m really looking forward to come back here in two years.”
Marlies SCHILD (AUT) 2nd place
On her performance:
“I’m really satisfied. I had a few mistakes in super g but it was okay. In the slalom it was not perfect but it was fast in the lower part and I’m really satisfied.”
Anja PAERSON (SWE) 3rd place
On her performance:
“I think I had two really good runs on the top. I felt pretty good. I think in the bottom part I was skiing a little bit too round. It was pretty high tempo in the super G and a lot of fast turns.
“Overall this weekend I am satisfied, I had a really tough year, I’ve won twice and I’ve been 18 times top 10 so it’s not really a bad season but I can see that people think that I should win a little bit more. This weekend is really coming back a little bit in the tempo that I’m normally used to.
“In my head I’m not so nervous in the start anymore. I really enjoyed the skiing a little bit better then I did this season already so hopefully I’m coming strong in the finish.”
