as they again claimed gold in the Women’s and Men’s World Cup event in Lake Placid, NY.

Dave Duncan (London, ON, living in Golden, BC) secured a spot in the Olympic team today when he stepped up to the challenge by achieving a bronze medal. Ashleigh McIvor (Whistler, BC) continued to keep the podium firmly within her sights as she skied to 4th place today and Danielle Poleschuk (Winnipeg, MN) also met her goal when she skied to an 8th place that resulted in a berth in the Olympic Winter Games.

The Canadian women’s squad came out of the first round strong winning each of their heats to advance to the quarterfinal rounds with each woman taking the hole shot out of the start and holding it to the finish. Good starts and strong skiing propelled Serwa, McIvor and Poleschuk to the semifinal round as they continued their charge. Aleisha Cline failed to advance after a difficult start created an insurmountable deficit.

The semifinal heats saw Serwa, McIvor and Poleschuk matched against one another as well as Anna Hollund (SWE). Serwa got out to an early lead taking the hole shot and McIvor fell in behind holding their spots to the finish and a spot in the final. Poleschuk struggled out of the start and moved to the small final where she eventually finished in 8th spot. 

In the Women’s final Serwa and McIvor faced off against, points leader, Ophelie David (FRA) and Fanny Smith (SUI). Serwa exploded out of the start to take the hole shot followed by David, Smith and McIvor. Serwa was able to successfully defend 1st position to the finish with McIvor staying locked in 4th. 

“After the way things went with Alpe d’Huez and not running the final, this win felt so much better, it felt like I deserved it more other than winning off of the qualifier, I was the fastest on that course and I proved it. “ When asked about the slow start to her season Serwa replied, “It was hard mentally at the beginning of the season but this win and the win at Alpe d’Huez really proved to me that I can do it and I’m in a good spot leading up to the games.”

On the Men’s side, Chris Del Bosco was the clear winner on the day after he dominated out of the start finding the hole shot in every one of his heats and successfully thwarting all challenges by skiing perfectly throughout the day eventually winning for his second World Cup victory this season and the third of his career.  

“Alpe d’Huez was just a bummer, you want to win through the heats but that’s the sport, when there’s weather like that and they make the call then the victory stands, I had a good qualifying run but it definitely wasn’t a full win in my view. “

Said Del Bosco. When asked about the result and the implications leading into the games, “ I know I’m skiing well and I wanted to have a couple of good races before the Olympics I’ve been building through the season. I think I’ve figured out some things  out and now that selection is over I can go back to focusing on having fun and racing. That’s why we all do it is to have fun and I think we sometimes forget that.”