ALPINE:

Brydon, Osborne-Paradis tops in nationals downhill training

March 20, 2010 — Alpine Canada     

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NAKISKA SKI AREA, Alberta — Emily Brydon has not won a GMC Canadian Championships title since she dominated the event in 2005, but that might be about to change.

Brydon, who won four national titles in 2005 and has nine in her career, finished with the fastest time in Saturday’s opening downhill training run on a beautifully sunny day at Nakiska Ski Area. Brydon finished the Mapmaker piste in a time of 59.19 seconds.

Development team skier Stephanie Irwin was second, just .23 back of the top time.

"It's a lot of fun. It's pretty easy and helps that we trained on it a fair bit in the preseason," said the 19-year-old from the Banff Alpine Racers.

Irwin finished sixth in the overall Nor-Am standings this season and spent time racing in Europe, including participation in the FIS Alpine World Junior Ski Championships in France.

"It's been a real learning season. This is the first year that I have spent a lot of time in Europe racing. And I have done a lot of learning," said Irwin, who was the top Canadian at world juniors in the super-G, finishing 10th.

"It's learning how to really race. In Europe it is so different, much more competitive. You learn that you need to make everything count, whether it's the start pushing or anything that will make you faster. In Europe it will be two seconds between 40 girls, so any mistake you'll move 10 spots at least."

On the men's side, Manuel Osborne-Paradis finished in 56.60, just .04 in front of Erik Guay. Dustin Cook was third in 56.96.

"Really I just want to get some time in with the big guys like Erik and those guys in super-G and downhill. I want to ski my best, see where I compare and maybe get in there for a medal," said Cook.

"The really competitive part of the season is over so it's a little more relaxed. Sometimes when people are relaxed they ski a little bit better, so I expect we'll see some pretty high-caliber racing here," said Cook, the 2010 Nor-Am Cup men's overall champion.

"I am still kind of amazed by what happened on the last day. I am still pretty ecstatic," said Cook about last week's Nor-Am Finals in which he captured the overall title on the final day of competition.

The men are expected to run the course twice on Monday's race day, with the winner having the fastest combined time. There are more training runs for men and women scheduled for tomorrow.

The public is also welcome to meet and get autographs from members of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team at the GMC vehicles and tent activation area at Nakiska on Sunday, approximately 30 minutes after the end of the downhill training.  SRC

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