DUNCAN & MURRAY SECURE BRONZE AT ST. JOHANN, AUT WORLD CUP

ST. JOHANN, AUT (January 5, 2010) – On a course that has become synonymous to slick fast conditions Dave Duncan (Golden, BC) and Julia Murray (Whistler, BC) stepped up to the challenge to claim Bronze in today’s World Cup night race at St. Johann, Austria.

Marking a career best, Dave Duncan (Golden, BC), a three-year veteran of the Canadian Ski Cross Team, securing 3rd under the bright lights of the St. Johann night race. Duncan’s previous best World Cup placing was a 9th at last season’s event in Branaes, Sweden.

After qualifying in 25th in an extremely tight qualification race the night before Duncan had no choice of lane for the start settling for the outside lane in every heat. He persevered and showed great confidence out of the start all night and was able to move from the outside into second spot in every heat but the final.

In the final heat Duncan displayed his mounting confidence when he faced off against Simon Stickl (GER), Daron Rahlves (USA), and Michael Schmid (SUI). Stickl, true to his form on the day, gained the hole shot early and held it to the finish winning the race. The other 3 competitors jockeyed for position where Rahlves was just able to muscle past Duncan for 2nd spot slotting Duncan to 3rd.

“This was one of the toughest races I’ve ever seen! It was rough, with lots of contact and just tough competition,” said Eric Archer, Canadian Team Head Coach, “I’ve always known Duncan has the ability to pull off this kind of result and today he did; it was amazing to watch!”

Julia Murray (Whistler, BC) matched her previous best by claiming a bronze medal after narrowly missing the podium in the season opening race in San Candido, Italy on Dec. 22nd, 2009. After an extremely good qualification heat the night before that saw Murray in 3rd, she capitalized by pulling great starts and skiing well all night long.

In her first two heats she easily found the hole shot and never looked back as she moved through to the semifinal round. Having a good start Murray had to fight hard and held her line for second after Meryll Boulangeat (FRA) took the hole shot, Murray advanced to the finals after holding on to second to the finish.

The final heat saw Ophelie David (FRA) take the hole shot which she maintained to the finish, winning the race. Murray and Boulangeat battled it out for second spot and it looked as though Murray would slide into 2nd spot but she got pinched against a gate and had to let off the gas a hair forfeiting 2nd spot to Boulangeat leaving Murry 3rd for the day.

“The way Julia raced today, she didn’t take any business from anyone and held her line and fought for the finish” said Eric Archer.  “With every race she skis with mounting confidence and she’s truly starting to realize she’s one of the best racers on the hill.”

NEXT EVENT WILL COME TO YOU FROM LES CONTAMINES, FRANCE ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 9TH 2010.

RESULTS

MEN

1 STICKL Simon GER
2 RAHLVES Daron USA
3 DUNCAN David CAN
4 SCHMID Michael SUI
5 ASTIER Florent FRA
6 MIAILLIER Sylvain FRA
7 GROENVOLD Audun NOR
8 MATT Andreas AUT

10 DELBOSCO Christopher CAN
27 ZORICIC, Nik CAN
30 BARR, Davey CAN

WOMEN

1 DAVID Ophelie FRA
2 BOULANGEAT Meryll FRA
3 MURRAY Julia CAN
4 WOERNER Anna GER
5 LIMBACHER Andrea AUT
6 MUELLER Katrin SUI
7 HUTTARY Karin AUT
8 FUKUSHIMA Noriko JPN

11 POLESCHUK Danielle CAN
12 MCIVOR Ashleigh CAN
16 CLINE Aleisha CAN