ALPINE:

Remme, Uryga shine for Canada in Whistler Cup openers

April 9, 2011 — Alpine Canada  

WHISTLER, B.C. — Five Canadian skiers made it on to the podium Friday as the host nation got off to a solid start in the Whistler Cup.

Team Canada's Roni Remme of Collingwood, Ont., was second in the K2 women's super-G, while fellow Team Canada skier Gregory Kofman of Toronto, Ont., was the top Canadian in the men's super-G, finishing sixth overall.

In the K1 age group events, Canadian skiers finished first and second in the women's kombi, and second and third in the men's kombi.

Here's a summary of the top results from day one of the Whistler Cup, presented by Rio Tinto Alcan.

K2 women's super-G: Remme's silver lining
Remme, a member of the National Ski Academy in Collingwood, flew the flag for Canada by taking second place in the women's super-G.

The 15-year-old reveled in the atmosphere, as members of Team Canada cheered each other on at an event that features 450 skiers from 25 different countries.

"It was a pretty exciting event for all of us. We had a good day and we are all pumped," said Remme, who clocked a time of 1 minute, 6.14 seconds. "I had a plan going in and I feel like I did what I was planning to do. You always want to be on the top of the podium but I'm happy with my result. The course was awesome and I'm very happy with the way I'm skiing."

The USA's Dani Brownell-Patty won the race in 1:05.88, while Austria's Marie-Therese Sporer was third (1:06.53).
  
"I had some great help at the start. All my teammates were yelling for me," said Brownell-Patty, 15, from Colorado. "I wanted to finish without any regrets and I think I did that. It was really fun. It's an amazing competition."

K2 men's super-G: Cayman calling
Dean Travers is from a country known more for its beaches and beautiful coastline than its alpine skiers.

But the younger brother of Dow Travers, who became the Cayman Islands' first Winter Olympian when he competed in alpine skiing at the 2010 Games in Vancouver-Whistler, is happy to be representing the Caribbean nation at the Whistler Cup.

"It's great," said Travers, 14, after winning the men's super-G with a time of 1:04.57. "I didn't really make any mistakes — it was the perfect run."

Travers, who trains in Aspen, Colorado, was born in the Caymans and followed his older brother onto the ski hill.

"I was third here two years ago and getting gold feels great," he said.

Kofman was the top Canadian. The 15-year-old Team Canada skier, who is generally stronger in the technical events, was sixth with a time of 1:05.94.

"It was pretty good," said the Craigleith Ski Club athlete. "I could have been a little more aggressive but I'm not complaining. Super-G is not my best event but today was awesome. It's been a great experience."

K1 men's kombi: Top Canadian surprises himself
Alex Uryga's coach told him he had a shot at securing a spot on the podium in the kombi event, but the 12-year-old from Vancouver, B.C., wasn't so sure.

"I had a great run but I'm really surprised," said Uryga, who was second with a time of 41.21 seconds. "I never thought I could do it in kombi."

The kombi event features a course that could be described as a combination of giant slalom and slalom — some of the gates are close together and others further apart.

New Zealand's Jackson Wells was the winner, with a time of 41.03, and Canada's Ryan Moffat rounded out the podium by finishing third in 41.28.

"At the top I was kind of all over the place and I had to throw my leg out to make a gate, but after that I got into the flow," said Moffat, 12, who skis out of Big White, B.C. "I'm really happy."

K1 women's kombi: Canucks dominate
Local skier Laura Swaffield led Canada to a 1-2 finish in the women's kombi.

The 13-year-old from Vancouver, B.C., won by almost half a second (42.50). In second place was fellow Canuck Amelia Smart of Vernon, B.C. (42.95).

"It was really fun. I was skiing pretty smooth," said Swaffield. "It's my home hill so that kind of helps.
"I was kind of nervous at the start but this feels great. I still can't believe it."

Smart, also 13, wasn't totally happy with her run but loved the atmosphere and was delighted to finish second.

"I'm pretty excited," she said. "I think it's really cool to see all the skiers from different countries."

The action continues Saturday with the K1 and K2 women's giant slalom, and the K1 and K2 men's slalom.

WHISTLER CUP - K2 WOMEN'S SUPER-G (Official results)
Rank    Bib    Nation Name                              1st split         2nd split     3rd split     Total
1        23    USA1   BROWNELL-PATTY D    26.20 (1)    27.84 (2)  11.83 (2)  1:05.88
2        1      CAN1   REMME Roni                26.35 (2)    28.08 (4)  11.71 (1)  1:06.14
3        3      AUT1   SPORER Marie-The       26.67 (3)    27.77 (1)  12.07 (4)  1:06.53
4        2      NZE1   HUDSON Piera             26.81 (5)    28.01 (3)  12.29 (7)  1:07.12
5        35    CAN1   CURRIE Lizzie              27.28 (11)   28.31 (6)  11.93 (3)  1:07.53

WHISTLER CUP - K1 WOMEN'S KOMBI (Unofficial results)
Rank   Bib   Name                                         Nation         Time
1        9      SWAFFIELD Laura                 CAN/CAN1   42.50 
2        7      SMART Amelia                      CAN/CAN1   42.95
3        2      PARKER Kathryn                    AUS/AUS1   42.96    
4        13    HROMCOVA Petra                  SVK/SVK1    43.19  
5        10    OHKOSHI Saya                     JPN/JPN1     43.38

WHISTLER CUP - K1 MEN'S KOMBI (Unofficial results)
Rank   Bib   Name                                         Nation         Time
1        12    WELLS Jackson                     NZE/NZE1    41.03
2        27    URYGA Alex                          CAN/CAN3   41.21
3        9      MOFFAT Ryan                      CAN/CAN1   41.28
4        3      GUERRERO Hermogenes          CHI/CHI1     41.44
5        54    BERNARD Simon                    BCQ/FERNI   41.61