from www.canski.org
LE MASSIF, QC (March 19, 2009) Jeffrey Frisch (Mont-Tremblant, QC) took back his Pontiac GMC Canadian Championships downhill title at Le Massif, QC today.
Frisch, 23, who won the national downhill championship in 2006, finished in a time of one minute and 25.36 seconds today to recapture the downhill crown.
The thing that I am really happy about is I was really struggling all year with my downhill. My giant slalom skiing got a lot better in the past year as I have trained a lot in the GS. I trained a lot in the technical disciplines this season and I think that is helping me now in the downhill, said Frisch.
This is actually his third Pontiac GMC Canadian Championship title as he won the super-G in 2007.
So I am really happy with todays result. I proved to myself that I can ski downhill, he said.
Toronto Ski Clubs Kelby Halbert (Bradford, ON), fresh from his participation in the FIS Alpine World Junior Ski Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, GER earlier this month, finished second today in 1:25.62s.
Louis-Pierre Hlie (Berthierville, QC), the 2009 mens overall Coupe Nor-Am Cup champion, was third in 1:25.79s.
I am happy I am top three but I wanted to win, said the 24-year-old Hlie who wore bib #9 today. I think (bib) #1, 2 or 3 would have been perfect today. It was a little softer when I went because the sun was starting to melt the track a little.
It was a warm and beautifully sunny day today with temperature hovering around 5C.
On the ladies side todays downhill was won by Larisa Yurkiw (Owen Sound, ON) in a time of 1:27.44 with Emilie Desforges (Montral, QC) second, 0.82s back and Shona Rubens (Canmore, AB) finishing third in 1:28.89. The race was not a national championship event but did serve as a national junior championship. The Pontiac GMC Canadian Championships ladies downhill occurs tomorrow.
There are parts that I didnt fix which I had hoped to but there is still tomorrow, said Yurkiw about her second training run. The conditions were way different then (Tuesdays) training run so its a little hard to build on it.
The pitch is really intimidating. I cant think of another course this year that was set so straight down such a steep pitch. A lot can be learned for doing a course like this and becoming comfortable on it, she said.
Quebec provincial team skier Ashley-Kate Durham (Mont-Tremblant, QC) from the Mont-Tremblant Ski Club, was the junior with the fastest time finishing in 1:29.82. She placed fourth overall on the day.