VanderBeek makes it 10 World Cup podiums for Canada this season with 2nd place in Sestriere DH

KELLY VANDERBEEK ON THE PODIUM IN SESTRIERE

VanderBeek makes it 10 World Cup podiums for Canada this season with 2^nd place in Sestriere DH

SESTRIERE, ITA (February 9^TH, 2008) – Kelly VanderBeek (Kitchener, ON) erased the memories of a fourth place finish at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games today by finishing second in a World Cup Ladies downhill race in Sestriere, ITA.

VanderBeek powered her way through the Banchetta piste, the Men’s Olympic course back in 2006, to finish in a time of one minute 39.48 seconds.

“So that was the problem, we should have just been on the Men’s track (in 2006),” joked VanderBeek, who missed an Olympic medal in the super G by just 0.03s in nearby San Sicario, ITA two years ago.

But the 24-year-old VanderBeek was comfortable describing today’s result as redemption.

“Absolutely, since the Olympics I have really created a positive environment for myself here in Sestriere. No matter what the event, I am pretty excited and raring to go once I get here,” she said.

It’s Vanderbeek’s second World Cup podium of the season, the first coming in a St. Anton, ITA DH in December. It’s the third podium of her career and the 10^th for the Canadian ski team this season.

“We are celebrating every podium and every victory, whether it is mine individually or someone else’s. It’s such a positive environment to be around,” said VanderBeek. “The coaches, the physio’s and all the rest of the staff are really working well together and everyone is doing their jobs really well right now.”

American Lindsay Vonn picked up amazingly her fourth downhill victory of the season, finishing 0.62s ahead of VanderBeek with Italian Nadia Fanchini in third. Britt Janyk (Whistler, BC) was just off the podium, placing seventh while teammate Emily Brydon (Fernie, BC), who earned the use of a General Motors vehicle for one year thanks to last week’s stunning super G victory, was 17^th today.

Today’s result moves VanderBeek all the way up to fourth in the Ladies World Cup downhill standings with 272 points. Janyk continues to sit third with 300 points while Brydon holds steady in seventh with 189 points.

The Ladies World Cup continues tomorrow with a super G in Sestriere. The race will be televised by Rogers Sportsnet beginning at 2:30 ET / 12:30 MT.

SESTRIERE, ITA – FEB. 9TH, 2008 – DH – LADIES

2007/08 CANADIAN WORLD CUP PODIUMS