Calgary, Alta. (January 3, 2018) – Erin Mielzynski (Collingwood, Ont.) is back in form after a seventh-place finish in the Zagreb, CRO slalom today with a time of 1:56.03. Mielzynski found her rhythm today attacking the bottom half of her first run to finish in 12th-place. Hammering down a fast, smooth and aggressive second-run earned Mielzynski the fastest second-run time to move up five spots to finish the day in seventh-place.

“It feels really good to be back in the top ten,” said Mielzynski. “It’s a relief. I’ve made a lot of changes to my skiing and it’s been hard to find that race pace and really go for it. Today was a relief but what’s nice to know is that I still have parts of my to improve and I still did well. I find confidence in this result and in the process. Sometimes you question the process but the coaches and I are staying on the same track and today shows that the whole team is doing the right thing. I made some mistakes on the top section but the bottom I really made up some time and it’s something to build on.”

Mielzynski is no stranger to success on this track, previously finishing with a sixth-place in 2015 and on the podium in 2013. This is Mielzynski’s first top ten this season, taking a few races to find race mode. Today she demonstrated she has what it takes to compete with the best in the world, winning the second run by 0.30.

With this result, Mielzynski has also met the minimum criteria to qualify for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in February.

“It feels amazing to qualify for the Games and make the step now,” said Mielzynski. “I can build into February with that off my shoulders. It’s such a sigh of relief to tick that off and focus on the next step.”

Young gun, Roni Remme (Toronto, Ont.), had a massive day as well, capturing her second personal-best in as many races. The 21-year-old earned a spot on the national team this year and had her first World Cup start at Lake Louise in early December. In the last slalom race in Lienz, AUT, Remme had her first World Cup slalom start and achieved her first World Cup slalom points, finishing 26th.

Today, she blew that personal-best away, finishing in 11th-place and threw down the fifth-fastest second run time of the day. Remme went into the second run sitting in 18th-place and hammered home a beautiful second run to move her up seven spots and just 0.01 out of the top-ten.

“I’m pretty excited with the momentum I’m creating here,” said Remme. “I haven’t reached my full potential yet and with mistakes I’m still in the position to succeed. I’m excited to keep pushing for more. I’ll take the confidence from today that I can compete with these girls and keep improving every run and every race.”

With this result, Remme has now met the criteria for nomination for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. 

Laurence St-Germain (St-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que.) also started in today’s race but got launched out of the track in the first run and had to hike up to finish the run. She did not qualify for a second run.

Canadian Results

7 – Erin Mielzynski

11 – Roni Remme

DNQ – Laurence St-Germain

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.