January 24, 2009 (Whistler, BC) – Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes (age 17, Calgary, AB) was the only Canadian to compete today in the first of two Large Hill World Cup competitions in Whistler. Boyd-Clowes, finished 39th in qualification on Friday with a jump of 115 metres to advance to today’s first round. Competing with the world’s best in his first World Cup, Boyd-Clowes finished 42nd today with a jump of 110.5 metres. “It wasn’t one of my better jumps but considering that it’s my first World Cup and it’s here in my home country, I’m not that unhappy with my performance,” stated the young ski jumper.

It was Austria who finished 1-2 following two rounds, with Gregor Schlierenzauer winning gold and setting a new hill record of 146.6 in his first jump of the day. He had the two longest jumps of the competition giving him a point total of 289.2. Austrian Wolfgang Loitzl was second with two solid performances (137.7 m. and 136.4 m.) giving him a point total of 274.1, and Matti Hautamaeki from Finland won bronze with 270.6 points. The lone American jumper in the event Anders Johnson was 41st just one place ahead of Boyd-Clowes with a jump of 112.5 meters.

Canadians are competing this weekend in Ski Jumping World Cup competition as part of the International Ski Federation’s (FIS) Nordic festival, taking place from January 23-25, 2009 at Whistler Olympic Park in the Callahan Valley. The Ski Jumping event features Vancouver 2010 Olympic medal hopefuls, representing a total of fourteen countries and approximately 54 athletes.

Competition resumes Sunday at 9:00 a.m. with the second World Cup competition of the weekend. All four Canadians entered in the event will compete again in the Qualification round hoping to advance to the Individual Large Hill (HS140) Competition which begins at 10:30 a.m. Canadian Stefan Read, who fell just short of qualifying for today’s event, looks forward to the opportunity to compete Sunday. “Sunday is a fresh start and a new event. I look forward to getting another opportunity to advance.”