ALPINE:

Halbert, Therer chalk up GMC Cup slalom wins

March 5, 2010 — Alpine Canada  

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CHELSEA, Que. — Kelby Halbert of Bradford, Ont., posted the fastest times on both runs Friday to win the men's slalom race while Marieannick Therer of St-Sauveur, Que., hung on for the women's gold at a GMC Cup alpine skiing competition at Camp-Fortune.

In the men's slalom, Halbert clocked a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 36.23 seconds for his third victory this season on the circuit. Braden Long of Collingwood, Ont., was second in 1:38.35 and Dylan Fisher-McCarney of Toronto third in 1:40.06.

The 19-year-old Halbert was fourth in the downhill last month at the World Junior Championships in Mégève, France.

''I was happy to win both runs and I'm pleased to be the leader of the GMC Cup overall points,'' he said. ''Today was fun. The weather is great and the snow is perfect. With the focus on the speed events at the world juniors, I haven't had many opportunities to race slalom. I'm pleased that I could put two clean runs together for the win.''

Long has skied most of this season on the U.S. college circuit for Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H.

''I wish I had skied faster but it was a tough course and I made a few mistakes,'' said Long. ''The weather is great and it was a fun day. I plan to step it up and ski faster tomorrow when the national team guys are racing.''

Canadian Olympic team members Ryan Semple and Patrick Biggs are scheduled to compete in Saturday's race.

In women's slalom, Therer also maintained her lead in the season standings, clocking 1:41.95. Victoria Stevens of Mont-Tremblant, Que., was second in 1:42.48 and Laura Rozinowicz of Toronto third in 1:42.69.

''It was a great race today,'' said Therer, a double winner at the season-opening stop in Quebec City in January. ''I tried to stick to my goal and managed to ski the way that I do in practice. In the second run, my heart was pounding in the start gate and I was really nervous. The run was OK and I was able to hold onto the lead.''

The medal was a nice comeback for Stevens, who didn't finish her two races at the first event in Quebec.

''I made a little mistake at the bottom of the second run and that cost me some time,'' said Stevens, also a world junior team member this year. ''Hopefully I can correct that mistake for the race tomorrow. Overall I was happy with the result. I don't race slalom as much anymore. My focus now is primarily the speed events.''  SRC

Friday's leading slalom results at a GMC Cup alpine skiing competition at Camp-Fortune, Que..

Men:
1. Kelby Halbert, Bradford, Ont., 1:36.23; 2. Braden Long, Collingwood, Ont., 1:38.35; 3. Dylan Fisher-McCarney, Toronto, 1:40.06; 4. Alexandre Boulanger, Quebec City, 1:40.75; 5. Jonathan Kellock, Newmarket, Ont., 1:40.98; 6. Pierre-Nicolas Tanguay-Lévesque, Quebec City, 1:41.59; 7. (tie) Scott Houser, U.S., and Brandon Sutton, Thornbury, Ont., 1:41.90; 9. Chris Steinke, Ottawa, 1:42.07; 10. William St. Germain, St-Férréol-les-Neiges, Que., 1:42.26

Women:
1. Mariannick Therer, St-Sauveur, Que., 1:41.95; 2. Victoria Stevens, Mont-Tremblant, Que., 1 :42.48; 3. Laura Rozinowicz, Toronto, 1:42.69; 4. Sandrine David, Laval, Que., 1:42.83; 5. Shannon Canpbell, Clarksburg, Ont., 1:43.73; 6. Marissa Riopelle, Midhurst, Ont., 1:44.19; 7. Devon Clarke, Waterloo, Ont., 1:44.83; 8. Stephanie Gould, Orleans, Ont., 1:44.87; 9. Rebecca Nadler, Ottawa, 1:44.90; 10. Heidi Robbins, U.S., 1:46.84.