ALPINE:

Brown, Remme win President’s Choice Canadian K2 super-G races

March 22, 2010 — Alpine Canada

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COLLINGWOOD, Ont. — After much anticipation, the 34th edition of the President's Choice Canadian K2 Championships got under way Monday at Osler Bluff with the boys and girls super-G races.

Competing under clear blue skies and on a fast, winter-like track, the event saw the crowning of Griffin Brown from Burke Mountain Academy in the boys race with a time of 48.23 seconds and Roni Remme from Ontario on the girls side with a time of 50.16.

"I had a great run," said Brown, who is taking part at these championships with a complete delegation from the United States. "I have no pressure like the Canadians who are still trying to get to Whistler Cup. For me I'm here in my last event of the season as I didn't qualify for Whistler, so this is all fun for me. The track was clean, I was able to carve, stay ahead, I'm really happy."

Invermere, B.C.’s Martin Grasic was also all smiles as he clinched the second spot in the super-G with a time of 48.56.

"I was surprised at how calm I was," said Grasic, who is in his second presence at the President's Choice Canadian K2 Championships after racing in last year's event at Silverstar, B.C.

"I was a bit worried coming into the event about the snow but today was perfect. The pitch was a bit bumpy but I fought through and tried to go as clean as possible and run a flat ski," added Grasic whose father, Dusan, is the technical coach for Canada's men's World Cup team. "I really miss my dad in the winter because he is away, but at least I get to ski with him all summer in the ACA camps down south.”

Karl Kuus from Devil's Glen in Ontario, who was crowned Ontario Overall Provincial Champion last week, achieved the third-fastest time, crossing the line in 48.75.

"I was able to ignore the pressure of winning provincials and letting my mind go blank,” admitted Kuus. "The track was great. I was able to rip it up. The top pitch was good but I did jam on a gate that slowed me down a bit, but took it straight from there to the bottom.”

Kuus is a slalom specialist who took advantage of his podium finish to thank his dad for helping him get this far in racing.

On the girls side, Remme shared the podium with Emma King from British Columbia, who came in second in 50.20, and Jenna McIntyre from Alberta, who finished third with a time of 50.42.

Remme, who skis out of the National Ski Academy and recently won the overall title at the Ontario K2 provincials, was surrounded by parents and grandparents who were on site to cheer her on.

"I knew if I skied to my potential I'd get the result I wanted," said Remme, a focused skier who is in her first year of racing in the K2 age category. "My coaches and I had the game plan of ski well and results will come. The track was amazing, a huge improvement over yesterday’s training, a great set —technical but still a speed race. I did make a few errors in the first few gates but got back on track for the flats.”

King came in second after having been inspired by watching the Olympics in February.

"As a Whistler resident, I had the chance to watch all but two of the entire alpine Olympic events," said King. "Coming here, I was really nervous. But I'm always nervous, so that is my comfort zone I guess. Fortunately, the snow was really good and I was able to put together a good run. It's never perfect because there's always something to improve on for sure.”

McIntyre finished third after having been the overall points series champion for Alberta and the provincial super-G winner earlier this season.

"I was not too worried, just the usual prerace feeling," admitted the calm and poised McIntyre. "The track was fun, easy to charge down in perfect conditions."

Following the morning super-G race, racers had a second chance to ski down the course for the super-combined event, consisting of two runs, one super-G run preceded by a slalom leg. With more challenging weather forecast for the remained of the week, organizers decided to take advantage of the sun to host the super-G segment of the super-combined on Monday. Consequently, the super-combined national champions of these Canadian K2 Championships will be crowned Tuesday following the ultimate slalom run.

The boys super-G race for the super-combined title saw Kuus set the pace, followed by Adam Lamhamedi from Quebec in second and Grasic in third.

On the girls side, Alix Wells from British Columbia was fastest, followed by McIntyre in second and Hallie Maclachlan from British Columbia in third.

Throughout the intense race day, all athletes, coaches and volunteers enjoyed a food hut hosted by the event sponsor — The President's Choice — and serving porridge, apple cider, cookies and cereal.  SRC