CANADIAN SKI CROSS WOMEN MAKE HISTORY TODAY AS THEY SWEEP THE PODIUM AT GRINDELWALD, SUI WORLD CUP

GRINDELWALD, SUI (March 12, 2010) – Canadian Ski Cross Team women ruled the podium today and made history as Canada became the first nation to sweep the podium in a women’s Ski Cross event. Kelsey Serwa (Kelowna, BC) placed 1st, Ashleigh McIvor (Whistler, BC) placed 2nd and Danielle Poleschuk (Calgary, AB) was 3rd at the World Cup event in Grindelwald, Switzerland. Chris Del Bosco (Sudbury, ON) continued his World Cup podium streak as he took 3rd place on the day.

When asked about the Team’s success today, Head Coach, Eric Archer replied, “Today the girls had a lot of fun, it was one of those days where the sun was out and the course was good, it was like a training day at Powder King because it was almost all Canadians in the final. They we hooting and hollering and talking to one another down the course, it was a lot of fun to watch!”

For the third time this season Kelsey Serwa (Kelowna, BC) has stood on the top step of the podium as she demonstrated once again that she is a rising star in women’s Ski Cross. In a close final that saw a lot of pressure from her teammates, Serwa was able to finish the course less than a ski length ahead of McIvor.

“I was so glad that the Canadian Gals were able to get the finals.” Said Serwa, “I was in bottom heat and Ashleigh and Danie were in the top heat so I didn’t see them till I was coming up for the final, I was so excited when I got to the top and saw that they still had their bibs on and they saw that I still had my bib on, I just kept thinking how awesome and how much fun it was going to be to actually get to race together!”

In her second World Cup event since winning Gold at the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, Ashleigh McIvor (Whistler, BC) made her fifth trip to the podium this season as she was just edged out by Serwa. Today’s result put McIvor within 27 points of series leader Ophelie David of France for the overall World Cup Ski Cross title.

“I was pretty close to caching her [Serwa],” said McIvor, “ definitely within a ski length, I tried passing her a couple of times, I even had my tips on her tails at one point, I kept trying to pull out but I didn’t quite get her.”

For the first time in her World Cup career, Danielle Poleschuk (Calgary, AB) stood on the podium in placed 3rd. In only her second year with the team, this result marks Poleschuk’s best ever result.

“This being my first podium it’s pretty cool but to be standing there with Ashleigh and Kelsey, that was really cool!” Said Poleschuk.

Aleisha Cline finished the day in 17th place.

In Men’s competition, DelBosco, still battling illness, was able to advance to the quarterfinals after winning his first heat. It was here that he met up with Michael Schmid of Switzerland and the two advanced together to the finals where they met up with eventual winner Audun Groenvold of Norway. Today’s 3rd place finish marks the 3rd consecutive World Cup podium for Chris DelBosco and 4th time he has been on the podium this season.

Stanley Hayer (Kimberly, BC) finished the day in 8th place, Nik Zoricic (Toronto, ON) in 17th, Brian Bennett (Quesnel, BC) placed 22nd and Davey Barr was 24th.

NEXT EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 14TH IN MEIRINGEN , SWITZERLAND

RESULTS

WOMEN

1 SERWA Kelsey CAN
2 MCIVOR Ashleigh CAN
3 POLESCHUK Danielle CAN
4 HOLMLUND Anna SWE
5 HOEIE GJEFSEN Marte NOR
6 MURK Seraina SUI
7 MUELLER Katrin SUI
8 WOERNER Anna GER

17 CLINE Aleisha CAN

MEN

1 GROENVOLD Audun NOR
2 SCHMID Michael SUI
3 DELBOSCO Christopher CAN
4 LEWEN Lars SWE
5 KRAUS Tomas CZE
6 ELIASSON Tommy SWE
7 NETZER Conradign SUI
8 HAYER Stanley CAN

17 ZORICIC Nick CAN
22 BENNETT Brian CAN
24 BARR Davey CAN