01.10.10 - A FANTASTIC DAY AS MCIVOR TAKES GOLD AND MURRAY AND HAYER TAKE SILVER AT THE WORLD CUP RACES IN LES CONTAMINES, FRANCE

Les Contamines, FRA (January 10, 2010) – The Canadian Ski Cross Team continued to gain confidence as Ashleigh McIvor (Whister, BC) took home the gold medal followed closely by teammate Julia Murray (Whistler, BC) as she secured 2nd spot. In men’s competition, Stanley Hayer (Calgary, AB) found his stride, as he too took home a silver medal in World Cup action from Les Contamines, France. 

It was a tight final with McIvor out of the gate first and gaining the hole shot over World #1 Opheile David (FRA). McIvor, armed with strong starts all day and the advantage of winning her two heats the day before, prior to having the race postponed due to weather, was matched against David in both the quarter and semifinal heats. McIvor was able to study the tactics of David and saw that she was sliding some turns and was able to rely on her tight line and clean turns to keep in front of David all through the final.

“What was nice about today’s win was I didn’t advance because someone crashed. It was all good strong starts and good strong skiing,” said McIvor.  “It was really nice to come back to Les Contamines and finally race some air and some off camber doubles with good terrain and good flow; it’s one of those courses that when you get to the bottom, you want to go do it again!”

Murray and Karin Huttary (AUT) were battling it out for 3 spot in the final heat when Huttary gained 3rd spot. Murray, who had traveled up the ladder with Huttary through both the quarter and semifinals rounds had also studied her opponents skiing and knew she had been weak off of one jump in the middle of the course in the previous two heats. Murray was able to capitalize after Huttary made an error and Murray was able to move into 3rd spot behind David (FRA) and McIvor.

Sandwiched between the two Canadians, David attempted a pass on McIvor towards the bottom of the course and crashed, exiting the course, finishing 4th on the day and moving Murray into 2nd spot where she rode behind McIvor for the silver.

When asked about her season and her spot on the team, Murray said, “These last few results have really helped me. In 2003 I made a speech to the IOC for having the games in Vancouver and ever since this team began the Olympics have always been the main goal for me.”

In men’s skiing, Stanley Hayer returned to the podium today for the first time this season as he secured 2nd. Winning all of his heats to get into the finals, Hayer showed good form as he settled into 2nd spot behind Casey Puckett (USA) in the final heat. On the third to last feature of the course Puckett made a tactical error and crashed, in trying to avoid the crash Hayer was forced to slow down just enough that the door was opened for Xavier Kuhn (FRA) to move to 1st spot and win the race.

When asked about the selection process and the mood of the team leading up to the Olympics, Hayer said, “It’s a heavy weight on the shoulders but the mood on the team isn’t too bad, we’re racing against each other but we’re also racing against the other freestyle disciplines and everyone is so good. This second place helps me huge in securing a spot.”

Chris Del Bosco (Sudbury, ONT) finished in 6th spot, Kelsey Serwa (Kelowna, BC) finished in 9th followed closely by teammate Danielle Poleschuk in 10th. Dave Duncan (London, ONT) skied to 11th spot, Aleisha Cline (Squamish, BC) finished the day in 12th and Davey Barr (Squamish, BC) finished in 20th. 

NEXT RACE TAKES PLACE JANUARY 13, 2010 FROM ALPE D’HUEZ

RESULTS

Women

1 MCIVOR Ashleigh CAN
2 MURRAY Julia CAN
3 HUTTARY Karin AUT
4 DAVID Ophelie FRA
5 MUELLER Katrin SUI
6 JOSSERAND Marion FRA
7 KVINLOG GENLID Gro NOR
8 FJELLVANG-SOELLING Sophie DAN            

9 SERWA Kelsey CAN
10 POLESCHUK Danielle CAN
12 CLINE Aleisha CAN

Men

1 KUHN Xavier FRA
2 HAYER Stanley CAN
3 KRAUS Tomas CZE
4 PUCKETT Casey USA
5 SCHMID Michael SUI
6 DELBOSCO Christopher CAN
7 HOFER Beni SUI
8 PICCARD Ted FRA

11 DUNCAN David CAN
20 BARR Davey CAN
33 ZORICIC Nick CAN
34 LEMAN Brady CAN
41 BENNETT Brian CAN