Music: {allcanada} GAGNON TAKES LADIES' GIANT SLALOM TITLE AT GMC CANADIAN CHAMPS

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

{allcanada} GAGNON TAKES LADIES' GIANT SLALOM TITLE AT GMC CANADIAN CHAMPS

NAKISKA, Alta. -- Marie-Michele Gagnon claimed the women's giant slalom national title on Wednesday at the GMC Canadian Championships.

"I really wanted this," said the Lac-Etchemin, Que., skier, who won by nearly a second with a two-run combined time of one minute 43.52 seconds.

"I knew that the one who wanted it the most would win. It's a tight, short course. I really tried to go for it."

Gagnon, who won the super-combined event on Sunday and was third in the super-G on Monday, won both the slalom and super-combined titles at last year's national championships.

"Giant slalom is my best event," said Gagnon, who finished the season ranked 16th in the world in the discipline. "But I have some good opponents here."

Gagnon was fastest in both runs Wednesday after the race was delayed following an early morning snow slide. She took the win on a shortened course ahead of Britt Janyk, of Whistler, B.C., who had a combined time of 1:44.27.

"It was a great race," said Janyk, who earlier won the super-G and downhill national titles. "I'm definitely happy to be on the podium.

"On this course you've really got to fight for every one-hundredth. I'm feeling tired but when you get into the gate, it's fun and I'm happy to be here."

Victoria Stevens of Mont-Tremblant, Que., was third after crossing the line with a combined time of 1:44.70.

"My runs didn't feel awesome, especially my second run," Stevens said. "I didn't ski it well so I'm a little disappointed. I really wasn't expecting to be on the podium but it's fun to be in there."

Marie-Pier Prefontaine of Saint-Sauveur, Que., was fourth in 1:44.97.