Max Kirshenblatt of WMSC poses with Quebec girls after finishing 3rd in men's super-G at 2014 Whistler Cup
WHISTLER, BC (April 4, 2014) — Whistler Blackcomb and the Whistler Mountain Ski Club are proud to welcome over 400 athletes ages 12 to 15, 150 coaches and 300 volunteers to the 22ndrunning of the Whistler Cup, presented by Rio Tinto Alcan. For the U16 athletes, men’s and women’s super-G competition kicked off the 3-day event Friday under a mix of conditions ranging from snow and fog, to sunny skies.
In the women’s race it was 15-year-old Viktoria Habersatter of Austria who took the win in one minute, 6.13 seconds. Habersatter, who lives near Saltzberg in Austria, is competing at her first-ever Whistler Cup and is loving her first visit to the resort.
“The course was so great today,” said Habersatter, who skis for the Radstadt Ski Club. “It was very fast, but for me it was the perfect run; a bit soft and a little foggy, but really, really good. I did hope to win, but I can’t believe it at the same time!”
Two young ladies from Norway rounded out the super-G podium, with Kajsa Vickhoff Lie, wearing bib 29, skiing into second position in 1:06.25, and Josefine Selvaag finishing third in 1:06.34.
The top Canadian in Friday’s race was another 15-year-old skier, Beatrix Lever from Montreal and the Mont Cascade Ski Club who finished in fourth position, missing the podium by a mere hundredth of a second, stopping the clock at 1:06.35. Lever, also in Whistler for her first time, spent the winter training at Whiteface Mountain in New York State and took part in the 4-day Team Canada training camp in Whistler in preparation for these races.
“The Team Canada camp was fun and it gave me a chance to see how I compare to other girls in the country,” said Lever. “I thought today’s course was really good, but I feel like I held back a little and could have done better. I was happy to qualify at the Can-Am’s to represent Canada here in Whistler, and my plan for tomorrow is to really just go for it, give it all I have and leave nothing on the hill.”
Fog continued to roll in and out during the men’s super-G, causing a few delays in the race, but in the end it was another Austrian racer, Manuel Traninger, who rose to the top finishing first in 1:03.94. Traninger, 15, hails from Schladming, an Austrian town famous for hosting World Cup races, and he too is experiencing Whistler Cup for the first time.
“My run was mostly good, but not great in the middle section,” said Traninger following his victory. “It was a little snowy during the race, but I’m happy to be in Whistler and very happy with this result. I’m looking forward to the giant slalom, which is my favourite discipline.”
Second spot was reserved for Traninger’s teammate Thomas Dorner, also of Austria, who completed the race in 1:04.30.
The highlight for Team Canada was a spectacular third place finish by hometown racer Max Kirshenblatt of Tsawwassen and the Whistler Mountain Ski Club who was 6th out of the gate and waited anxiously in the finish area to see if his time of 1:04.47 would be good enough for a trip to the podium.
“I’m feeling pretty happy with my result, but I don’t think I skied to my potential,” said Kirshenblatt. “My goal is always to ski my best, stay humble and just let it happen. I saw my mom in the start – she’s the start referee – I smiled at her, she gave me a wink and off I went. The weather was coming in and out and the volunteers and slippers have been doing a great job of keeping the course in good condition for everyone. My plan for tomorrow is to go back and get my slalom skis prepared, enjoy the parade, meet some new friends and get some rest.”
PHOTOS HERE
Competition continues Saturday with the women racing giant slalom and the men challenging the slalom course.
UNOFFICIAL MEN’S RESULTS FROM LIVE TIMING http://live-timing.com/race2.php?r=73638
UNOFFICIAL WOMEN’S RESULTS FROM LIVE TIMING http://live-timing.com/race2.php?r=73637
SCHEDULE: To view an event schedule and for more information about the Whistler Cup, presented by Rio Tinto Alcan, go to http://www.whistlercup.com
LIVE TIMING: Follow the Whistler Cup via live timing, at http://www.live-timing.com/index.php