Werry skis to top of super-G podium
He had a lot of skills and a lot of good training
NAKISKA — Calgary alpine ski racer Tyler Werry was a man without a team going into the season.
So Kip Harrington brought him under the wing of the Canadian development team, trained him and helped him achieve a career season, which culminated in a big day at Nakiska on Friday.
Werry got to stand atop the podium after clinching the Nor-Am Cup super-G season title, which comes with a guaranteed spot on the World Cup in the discipline next season.
“It was awesome,” said the 22-yearold, who grew up in Calgary, racing with the Fernie ski team. “I worked really hard this season and to be able to get that as a reward, I mean it’s what I dream of, basically.”
Werry won the first Nor-Am Cup super-G race of the season at Copper Mountain and his third-place in Quebec in February set him up so well that he only needed to finish 10th on Friday to clinch the championship.
“I’m super excited,” he said. “I got my first World Cup start this year at Beaver Creek and, I mean, it was a great show to be on. I was just overwhelmed with being there and I want to be there on a more continuous basis for next year.”
Morgan Pridy of Whistler, B.C. won Friday’s super-G race in 1:01.04, ahead of fellow Canadian national team member Jeffrey Frisch of Mont-Tremblant, Que. (1:01.34) and American Jared Goldberg (1:01.69). But because fellow Canuck Dustin Cook — Werry’s only realistic challenger for the super-G season title — was 13th, he finished on top.
“I started two in front of him today and I knew I’d need to have a good run to stay ahead of him,” said Werry. “Dustin’s a great skier, so to just barely beat him is awesome for me. He tried really hard, which is great.”
Harrington said Alpine Canada’s coaching staff asked him to take Werry into his program, which he joined on a trial basis in the fall. After Werry excelled in training and started doing well in races, he just stuck around. And it proved beneficial for both him and the national development team.
“As far as I’m concerned he’s been a team member and we’ve treated him every bit that way, the same as the other guys,” said Harrington.
“He had a lot of skills and a lot of good training and a lot of ability,” he added. “It just needed to come together and he put it all together this year. He really matured and grew and got a lot better. It’s paid off. He’s really matured as a guy, a ski racer.”
Werry has now met the criteria for selection to the national team, but the official decision on who will be on Team Canada for the 2014-15 season won’t be made until May.
The Nor-Am men now shift to Canada Olympic Park on Saturday and Sunday for the slalom events.
On the women’s side, Mikaela Tommy — the daughter of former Canadian champion and two-time Olympian Mike — won Friday’s la-
KIP HARRINGTON
dies super combined in 1:46.12, leading a Canadian sweep of the podium with Toronto natives Madison Irwin (1:46.40) and Candace Crawford (1:46.74) rounding out the podium. Fellow Canuck Roni Remme (1:47.02) was fourth.
Amazingly, Irwin and Tommy tied for the season super combined title.
American women swept the podium for Friday’s ladies super-G race, though, with Abby Ghent winning in 1:07.02, followed by Jacqueline Wiles (1:07.36) and Katie Ryan (1:07.57). The top Canadian was Candace Crawford of Toronto, who was fourth (1:07.68). With the win, Ghent wrapped up the season title.
WINTER NOTES: Canmore native Alex Harvey, by way of StFerreol-les-Neiges, Que., kicked off the World Cup cross-country skiing finals in style, finishing fourth in a classic ski-sprint race Friday in Falun, Sweden. He just ran out of real estate down the stretch. “I wanted to stay behind the pack for the first and second hill because I knew I was going to be fast on the downhill,” said Harvey, who finished eighth overall in the World Cup sprint rankings. “If it was a little longer, I would have caught them. I am very satisfied, though, with fourth today.” ... Calgary’s Mackenzie BoydClowes sits 30th halfway through the ski flying world championships in Harrachov, Czech Republic ... Alpine Canada announced Friday that longtime Canadian ladies head coach Hugues Ansermoz will step down at the end of the season. The 50-year-old Swiss-born coach plans to spend more time with his wife and three daughters.