ALPINE:

Mielzynski goes back-to-back for Whistler slalom dominance

March 16, 2011 — Alpine Canada  

WHISTLER, B.C. — Erin Mielzynski won her second consecutive Nor-Am Cup slalom in as many days on Wednesday in snowy and foggy conditions in Whistler, B.C.

Mielzynski, of Collingwood, Ont., led following the first run after clocking a time of 51.16 seconds. Her two-run combined time of 1 minute, 44.68 seconds was more than 1 1/2 seconds of her nearest challenger.

"Recently, I've just been trying to attack as hard as I can and go as hard as I can," said the 22-year-old Mielzynski. "I think that today I brought myself closer to doing that. Obviously, the goal is to do that at World Cup events, but it was a good day to practice and I think my aggression was where it needed to be."

Mielzynski has mainly been racing in FIS World Cup events this season. Her career-best result was a 13th-place finish in slalom in Arber-Zwiesel, Germany.

"World Cups are a little different because it's a huge boost of adrenaline with the big crowds, music and cameras," added Mielzynski. "But I think that at whatever level you are at, it is difficult in different ways, either winning Nor-Am races or getting one step closer to World Cup.

"I knew I could win again today, but I just tried to do what I needed to do and ski like I could. The added pressure makes it more difficult, but I think everyone here is just trying to put that aside until they get to the bottom."

It was a heartbreaking day for Elli Terwiel of Sun Peaks, B.C., who narrowly missed out on finishing in the top two in the overall standings for the second consecutive year. The top two in each discipline earn a place on their nation's World Cup team for the 2011-12 season.

Terwiel, 22, was second in the overall Nor-Am slalom rankings after finishing second on Tuesday, but she straddled a gate during her second run Wednesday. Final points totals were not immediately available, but according to unofficial results, Terwiel finished outside the top two.

"I was going for it but I straddled," said Terwiel. "The hard part about ski racing is that it often comes down to one run. It's the second year in a row that I'm close to getting a World Cup spot. It's very disappointing."

The second-fastest girl was Madison Irwin of Collingwood, Ont., who finished second with a two-run combined time of 1:44.68. The Prospect Group athlete was also the fastest girl in the junior category.

"It was really bumpy for everyone and really foggy," said Irwin, 18. "Overall I think my race was really good and I'm thrilled with my result."

The result represents Irwin's best career finish in the Nor-Am Cup and the first time she has made it onto the podium. Her best result before Wednesday was a fourth-place finish at a super-combined race at Panorama, B.C., last December.

"It's exciting to be on the podium for the first time," added Irwin. "I was overwhelmed with personal expectations earlier this season. I knew that it would be rough and that everyone was going to feel bad so I just threw all of the extra stuff out of the window and just skied. It was fun.

"I feel like I can be just as good as any of these girls, it's just a matter of being consistent with it. I can't be good in just one run in training."

On the men's side, Jeffrey Frisch of Mont-Tremblant, Que., finished fourth in the men's giant slalom on Wednesday, crossing the finish line with a time of 1:59.09. It's Frisch's best result in a Nor-Am race this season.

"I came back from a torn ACL last year and I just started skiing in September," said Frisch. "Then just after the Alta Badia World Cup I injured myself again and couldn't ski for six weeks.  I've just been back for a little while. I think I'm doing fine and I'm pretty happy with these results since I've had no training. It's not there every run and it's not perfectly consistent yet, but some of my turns are right back to the way they were before the injuries.

"The slope was holding up well today. It's crazy how much they're working on this course in order to make it happen. I'm actually pretty surprised and I want to thank all the people who have come to help out."

Eve Routhier of Sherbrook, Que., Brittany Phelan of Mont-Tremblant, Que., and Marie-Pier Préfontaine of Saint-Sauveur, Que., did not finish the slalom race.

Tyler Nella of Toronto, Ont., and Kelby Halbert of Bradford, Ont., did not finish the giant slalom race.

The women will race a giant slalom event Thursday and the men will be racing slalom.