News

Curtis Lush withstands back injury for GS gold at GMC Cup

Tuesday, 09 March 2010 15:55

COLLINGWOOD, Ont. - Curtis Lush of Toronto hopes he's put an injury plagued season behind him with his victory on Tuesday in the men's giant slalom which concluded the GMC Cup alpine ski series for the 2010 season.

Lush, 19, clocked a two-run time of one minute and 37.55 seconds to edge Ben Williams of Barrie, Ont., in second at 1:37.90 and Morgan Megarry of Collingwood, Ont., in third at 1:38.10.

On Saturday, Lush crashed hard in the men's slalom at Camp-Fortune, Que., and injured his back.

"I really wasn't sure whether I would race today," said Lush, who has battled injuries all season.  "But I managed to fight though it.  During race I was able to get myself into the zone and stay focused.  I was a little surprised to come first."

Williams was also surprised to claim the silver medal.  The 18-year-old has only competed in a handful of races this season in order to focus on his last year of high school. 

"I was really happy and surprised with that performance after taking most of the year off," he said.  "But I've been skiing well for the most part."

Megarry, 16, collected his first medal this season on the circuit.

"I haven't had a solid GS result in awhile," he said   "I went first in the opening run today so it was nice to have a perfect track for a change.  But in the second it was a much different situation going near the end but I thought overall it went pretty well."

In the women's GS, Ann West of the U.S., won the gold medal clocking 1:39.48 with her compatriot Delainey Ackerman second in 1:40.07 and Emily Goad of Avra, Ont., third in 1:40.09.

"I'm really happy with that, I've had a lot of trouble finishing my runs of late," said Goad, who hadn't finished her first or second run in her last five races. "I tried to charge hard especially on my second run in the deteriorating conditions. My training is also going better now and I'm starting to figure it out again."

The series is the brain-child of Olympic champion Nancy Greene Raine, who approached GMC more than four decades ago with the concept of creating a strong domestic ski racing series for up-and-coming Canadian alpine racers.

GMC has a rich history as a benefactor to communities and to amateur support. Thus, the original series was launched, developing some of Canada's best alpine racers including Kathy Kreiner, Gerry Sorensen, Laurie Graham, Karen Percy, and the Crazy Canucks.

Several current members of Canada's Alpine Ski Team are also GMC Cup alumni including past GMC Cup overall winners Michael Janyk (Whistler, BC) (2004), Brigitte Acton (Mont-Tremblant, QC) (2002, 2003), Shona Rubens (Canmore, AB) (2005), Marie-Michèle Gagnon (Lac-Etchemin, QC) (2007) and Erin Mielzynski (Guelph, ON) (2008).

Manuel Osborne-Paradis (Vancouver, BC) and John Kucera (Calgary, AB) are two Canadian World Cup winners who are also alumni of the program.

Last season's Coupe GMC Cup winners were Ashley-Kate Durham (Montreal, QC) and Benjamin Thomsen (Invermere, BC).

Be sure to also check out the Coupe GMC Cup website (www.gm.ca/cup) which features new Canadian Alpine Ski Team bios, videos from Erik Guay (Mont-Tremblant, QC), Janyk, Kucera and Osborne-Paradis as well as other exciting new features.

Tuesday's leading giant slalom results at a GMC Cup alpine skiing competition at Georgian Peaks in Collingwood, Ont.

Men: 1. Curtis Lush, Toronto, 1:37.55; 2. Ben Williams, Barrie, Ont., 1:37.90; 3. Morgan Megarry, Collingwood, Ont.,  1:38.10; 4. Kelby Halbert, Bradford, Ont., 1:38.29; 5. Adam Gores, Hamilton, 1:39.31; 6. Dylan Fisher McCarney , Toronto, 1:39.59; 7. Brandon Sutton, Thornbury, Ont., 1:39.65; 8. (tie) Jerome Tremblay, Quebec City and William Schuessler-Bedard, Sutton, Ont., 1:39.72; 10. Mathieu Bertrand, Beaconsfield, Que., 1:39.81

Women: 1. Ann West, U.S., 1:39.48; 2. Delainey Ackerman , US., 1:40.07; 3. Emily Goad, Avra, Ont., 1:40.09; 4. Emilie Lamoureux Mont-Tremblant, 1:40.11; 5. Marissa Riopelle, Midhurst, Ont., 1:40.59; 6. Yina Moe-Lange, Denmark, 1 :40.72; 7. Rebecca Nadler, Ottawa., 1:40.85; 8. Katerine Lamoureux, Mont-Tremblant, Que., 1:41.21; 9. Randa Teschner, Petawawa, Ont., 1:41.48; 10. Shannon Campbell, Clarksburg, Ont., 1:41.69.

INFORMATION:

Janice Avon Coupe GMC Cup (604) 318-1081 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it