World Cup Season Ends on a High Note for Canada's Moffat and Pothier
The 2001-2002 World Cup season is drawing to a close with the Seventh Viessmann World Cup being held this weekend. As well as crowning the World Cup Champions, the results from this weekend's races will help determine the top seeds for the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City next month.In the doubles event held earlier today, Canada's Chris Moffat and Eric Pothier were the top Canadian pair, turning in a solid 7th place finish, 0.578 seconds off the gold medal pace. It was an important race for the young Olympians, who will compete in the top flight at the Winter Olympics. Moffat and Pothier also finished the season number ten in the world.
"I think this race is a good indication that we have everything we need to medal in Salt Lake, said Calgary's Chris Moffat. "What we need to work on now is consistency."
"Today was a bit of a disappointment since we essentially missed the podium by a turn," said Airdrie's Eric Pothier. "We were sitting in third place team right into the last corner, but now we really feel what we can do and we're looking forward to the Olympics where we can hopefully show the whole world."
The other Canadian team of Grant Albrecht and Mike Moffat finished in 17th place.
The German powerhouse team of Patric Leitner and Alexander Resch captured the gold medal and the World Cup Championship. Chris Thorpe and Clay Ives of the United States visited the podium for the first time, winning the silver medal. With today's bronze medal, Austria's Markus Schiegl and Schiegl's finished the 2001-2002 World Cup season in third place over all.
In the women's event, Canada's Regan Lausher finished in 14th place, 1.520 seconds off the winning pace.
"I am just looking forward to putting down 4 consistent runs in Salt Lake City," said Regan.
The powerful German team swept the podium with Silke Otto claiming the gold medal and the World Cup championship. Team mates Barbara Niedernhuber and Silke Kraushaar joined her on the podium.
Source: Jennifer Pashniak, CLA
Tim Farstad, CLA-OLTC, (403) 616-1397 or tfarstad@coda.ab.ca