A big Win for Whistler

In the lead up to the 2010 Olympics all eyes were on Whistler this weekend for the Alpine Skiing World Cup. Throughout the four-day event at Whistler’s Creekside the weather co-operated providing excellent quality & quantity of snow complemented by beautiful blue skies.

Crowds were around the 2000-3000 thousand with many coming out to support Whistler’s local racers Britt Janyk and Quebecer Erik Guay who were each fourth in their races.

Germany’s Maria Riesch has won the women’s World Cup super combined race in a time of two minutes 10.07 seconds. Skiracing.com commenting “Maria Riesch put down a blazing super G run and grabbed the early lead in the super combined World Cup at Whistler Sunday. Julia Mancuso holds second after the super G leg with a run of slalom still left to race. Canadian Emily Brydon holds third”

Maria Riesch then went on in the slalom to win a World Cup super-combined on Sunday. Austria’s Marlies Schild came second by just nine one-hundredths of a second and Sweden’s Anja Paerson was third.

Swiss Nadia Styger won the Whistler women’s World Cup downhill race Friday just ahead of American Lindsey Vonn, who took the overall downhill season title with a second-place finish.

Austria’s Christoph Gruber won the men’s super-G race Thursday ahead of compatriot Hannes Reichelt and Slovenia’s Ales Gorza. American Bode Miller, leader of the overall standings, failed to complete the race.

Austria’s Hannes Reichelt won his first World Cup giant slalom on Saturday commenting “”I know that slope is perfect for me, I can be fast here and that gives me a lot of confidence. It’s good to know you can be fast on this slope in two years, but a lot can happen.”

Bode Miller of the United States held his lead in the overall standings with 1,103 points. Raich is second with 1,058 and Cuche has 998.

The Vancouver Olympic Games Organizing Committee spent $27.6 million upgrading the Creekside facility for the Olympic and although the overall feedback on the course was positive, the spectators we somewhat frustrated by the 30min hike up the mountain to get to the finish line. Vice President in charge of venue management on the Olympic organizing committe, Cathy Priestner-Allinger acknowledged that complaints from spectators were heard and will be corrected by 2010, adding “plans are in the works for a 7,000-seat grandstand at the finish area and fans will be able to line the course to cheer on their countries athletes to gold.”

Overall there is no doubt that as the countdown begins excitement and interest in Whistler for the 2010 Olympics continues to boom!!