Calgary, Alta. (December 9, 2016) – The alpine Nor-Am Cup series kicked off this week at Lake Louise, culminated by the 2017 Sport Chek Canadian Championship downhill race today.

The unrelenting -30 degree temperatures continued into today as the athletes’ clocked speeds of over 100km/hr.

Two Alpine Canada athletes were crowned winners in today’s downhill national champion race. Canadian Alpine Development Team athlete, Stefanie Fleckenstein, from Whistler Mountain Ski Club, was crowned today’s ladies’ Canadian downhill champion and Canadian Alpine Ski Team member, Broderick Thompson, won on the men’s side.

Fleckenstein pushed out of her first World Cup start gate last weekend at the Lake Louise World Cup speed opener, racing both downhills and the super-G. The World Cup experience undoubtedly played a big part in Stefanie’s confidence heading into the Nor-Am Cup week of races and into today’s Canadian Championship.

Joining Fleckenstein on the podium is U.S.A.’s Alice Merryweather in second-place 0.08 seconds off the lead-time and BC Ski Team’s Soleil Patterson, from Red Mountain Racers in British Columbia, finished in third-place, 1.29 seconds back from Fleckenstein.

“Today was an awesome day and I’m really happy with the win,” said 19-year-old Fleckenstein. “Coming in second-place at last year’s Canadian Championships, there was only one spot to go but up! I think racing the World Cup last weekend was really helpful in building my confidence. I was able to test out new lines, which didn’t work yesterday, but worked today! I’m now heading to Panorama for the next Nor-Am Cup race series.”

Canadian Alpine Ski Team member, Broderick Thompson from Whistler Mountain Ski Club, took the Canadian Champion downhill title today, bettering his second-place finish at last year’s Canadian Championships. Thompson beat the second-place time, put down by teammate Tyler Werry, formerly with the Fernie Alpine Ski Team, by 0.37 seconds. U.S.A. represented third-place today with Nicholas Krause wearing bib number 29 and finishing 0.49 seconds back from first-place.  

“I felt really focused in the gate today and I wanted to put it all on the line and leave nothing on the track,” said Thompson. “I was really happy with the outcome and super excited to take home the Canadian downhill title today. I will continue with Nor-Ams in Panorama and will rejoin the World Cup speed team in Santa Caterina.”

Both Thompson and Werry are part of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team training with the legendary Canadian Cowboys Erik Guay, Manuel Osborne-Paradis and Benjamin Thomsen. Canada was well-represented on the men’s side with a total of four athletes in the top 15 and 27 racing today.

Ladies’ Top Ten Canadian Results

1 – Stefanie Fleckenstein (B.C.)

3 – Soleil Patterson (B.C.)

6 – Georgia Burgess (Alta.)

10 – Antonia Wearmouth (B.C.)

Men’s Top 15 Canadian Results

1 – Broderick Thompson (B.C.)

2 – Tyler Werry (Alta.)

14 – Jeffrey Read (Alta.)

15 – James Crawford (Ont.)

Full results here.

ABOUT ALPINE CANADA

Alpine Canada is the national governing body for alpine, para-alpine and ski cross racing in Canada. With the support of valued corporate partners along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium and the Canadian Olympic Committee, Alpine Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic, world championship and World Cup medallists to stimulate visibility, inspiration and growth in the ski community.

For further information or press inquiries, please contact Ashley Shantz at ashantz@alpinecanada.org or call (587) 226-3007.