March 22, 2012 (Mont Ste-Anne, QC) – The open men and women’s sprints had to have a venue change to Mont Ste-Anne after the Plains of Abraham lost whatever snow was left following a week of near summer weather. Plenty of fans were out to see hometown hero Alex Harvey work his magic and they were not disappointed.

Harvey posted the fastest qualifying time of 2:51.28 on the 1.4km circuit. Three more skiers were less than second behind led by Phil Widmer (0.01 seconds), Norway’s Sindre Bjornestad Skar (0.11s) and Alberta World Cup Academy’s Jesse Cockney (0.83s).

The snow had been salted overnight to produce a fast course and while one heat finished another started making for non-stop excitement. Add a helicopter carrying the Grand Formage of one of Harvey’s sponsors, and no shortage of spills – for both men and women on the icy track – and the atmosphere was a bit circus-like.

But Harvey was here to race winning each of his heats and then silenced his rivals in the tightly bunched final. For Harvey it was his second gold of the Championships as defending champ Len Valjas finished 4th (last year the sprint was classic and it was Valjas’ first National title).

“It was pretty tactical and actually a slow pace,” Harvey told SkiTrax post-race. “But we could get a high speed because they salted the course so it was good to draft and no one wanted to lead.

“I kind of had to stand back because I was behind Len (Valjas) when Devon went, but then I had the advantage of being the hunter instead of the hunted. In the end it played into my advantage.”

Kershaw followed Harvey for silver at .017 seconds back, Widmer was next for the bronze position followed by Valjas. France’s Bapiste Gros took fifth while Norway’s U23 team Sindre Bjornestad Skar was sixth.

The fans got what they came for – sunshine, fast skiing, and gold for their local hero.

Full results HERE.