December 19, 2009 (Canmore, AB) – Canada’s Dasha Gaiazova and Stefan Kuhn have punched their tickets to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler. Gaiazova and Kuhn were the winners of the Haywood NorAm Cup classic sprints on Saturday at the Canmore Nordic Centre, clinching themselves a spot on the Canadian national Olympic team.

“I was expecting to go,” said Kuhn. “I was one of the best sprinters (in the country) placing 15th on the World Cup last year and I wanted to get on that podium today.”

Kuhn, a native of Canmore Alta., had the fastest time in the men’s qualifier, 1.54 seconds ahead of Drew Goldsack of Red Deer, Alta. For Kuhn, sewing up the Olympic spot was a dream come true. He quit skiing after being one of the top junior skiing in Canada to take up a career as a chef but was talked into coming back to the sport.

“I wanted to fulfill my young childhood dream of going to the Olympics and here we come,” said Kuhn. He had a couple close calls in the heat races. Kuhn placed second in both the men’s quarter-final and semifinal. He picked up the pace in the final, finishing ahead of Goldsack in second and Sean Crooks of Thunder Bay, Ont.

“Anything classic is my thing,” said Kuhn. “I was the fastest qualifier but I had a bit of a back problem.” Kuhn worked with his massage therapist before the heat races and worked out the kink in his back to pick up the victory.

The finals saw one major upset as Crooks qualified for the heats in 21st place finished 3rd overall, while the third place qualifier, Phil Widmer of Banff, Alta., ended up in sixth place overall.

Mark Iverson was the top American, winning the B-final to finish sixth overall.

Women’s Sprint
In the women’s bracket, Gaiazova of Banff, Alta., was dominant. After the qualifying run she was nearly three seconds ahead of the second place qualifier, Shayla Swanson of Calgary.

“It never gets easier,” said Gaiazova, who will be competing in her first Olympic Games. “I came here in great shape and racing really well.” Gaiazova couldn’t be caught in the heats either. While many of the top skiers were trying to position themselves to move on to the next round, Gaiazova cruised to victories in the quarter-finals and semifinals.

Gaiazova broke away from the pack in the final with fourth place qualifier Madeleine Williams of Edmonton coming in second while third went to Andrea Dupont of Timmins, Ont., seventh in the qualifications,

“My goal today was to charge and I did really well, especially in the final,” Gaiazova said. She said the course was extremely difficult for a sprint event, but it was a good tune up heading for the Olympics.

Williams and Dupont were able to knock Swanson down to fifth place and third place qualifier Rhonda Jewett of Canmore finished in fourth place. The top American was Laura Valaas in sixth place.

Elite Sprint Qualificationshere.
Final Elite Sprint Heatshere.

Results

Finals (brief)

Elite Women
1. Dasha Gaiazova, CAN
2. Madeleine Williams, CAN
3. Andrea Dupont, CAN

Elite Men
1. Stefan Kuhn, CAN
2. Drew Goldsack, CAN
3. Sean Crooks, CAN

Junior Women
1. Allyson Cummings, CAN
2. Andrea Lee, CAN
3. Michaela Howie, CAN

Junior Men
1. Erik Fagerstrom, USA
2. Alex Mahoney, CAN
3. Andrew Brisbin, CAN

Qualifications (brief)

Elite Women
1. Dasha Gaiazova, CAN, 3:47.62
2. Shayla Swanson, CAN, 3:50.61 (+2.99)
3. Rhonda Jewett, CAN, 3:52.41 (+4.79)

Elite Men
1. Stefan Kuhn, CAN, 3:41.00
2. Drew Goldsack, CAN, 3:42.54 (+1.54)
3. Phil Widmer, CAN, 3:44.36 (+3.36)