COPPER, COLORADO – Under sunny skies and textbook man-made snow conditions Canada earned two podiums here today as Mt. Tremblant, Quebec’s Jasey Jay Anderson took gold in the parallel slalom and Lachine, Quebec’s Caroline Calvé earned bronze.

Both athletes, who rallied from fifth place finishes in yesterday’s parallel giant slalom race, said they learned important lessons for the coming year in these early-season NorAms.

Anderson, the 2010 Olympic champion, who raced ten runs to win the day, said, “It was a ground-breaking day for the rest of the season.” The 37-year-old who builds his own boards explained, “I got some good mileage on my legs, and riding this many races in these kind of snow conditions gave me some ideas for a new direction for my boards, let’s just say I got a lot done today for development.”

Coach Mark Fawcett added that at an altitude of 12,000 feet, the Copper course is a virtual battle of attrition for the riders and today Anderson’s depth of experience paid off, with a little help from his team. “We were pouring snow down Jasey’s neck to wake up the nervous system and amp him up,” he said.

Nevin Galmarini of Switzerland was second and Rok Flander of Slovenia (who trains with the Canadian team) was third in the men’s field.

Other Canadian finishes today in men’s action included:

7 Michael Lambert, Toronto, ON
11 Darren Gardner, Burlington, ON
12 Matthew Morison, Burketon, ON
13 Matthew Carter, Maryhill, ON
14 Steve Barlow, Courtice, ON
17 Sebastien Beaulieu, Sherbrooke, QC
18 Richard Evanoff, Pickering, ON
21 Indrik Trahan, Trois-Rivière, QC

On the women’s side Calvé was bested by training partner Hilde-Katrine Engeli of Norway who took the gold. Stefanie Meuller of Switzerland was second.

“These NorAms are really a test for me, I’m working with a couple of new coaches this season, new techniques and some new equipment. Overall I’ve been really happy with the results. I won the qualifiers yesterday which was a pleasant surprise, and then today with the bronze, I’m pretty confident for the season,” said Calvé.

Other Canadian finishes today in women’s action included:

5 Marianne Leeson, Burlington, ON
8 Ekaterina Zavialova, Calgary, AB
13 Ariane Lavigne, Lac-Supérieur, QC

FIS World Cup snowboard action continues on Dec. 6 with a snowboardcross event in Montafon, Austria.

PGS and PSL NorAm
November 13 & 14, 2012 – Copper, Colorado

Top 3 and National Team Results:
PGS Nov. 13, 2012

Women
1 Hae-Rim Jeong (KOR)
2 Madeline Wiencke (USA)
3 Patrizia Kummer (SUI)
4 Marianne Leeson, Burlington, ON
5 Caroline Calvé, Lachine, QC
10 Ariane Lavigne, Burlington, ON
11 Ekaterina Zavialova, Calgary, AB

Men
1 Rok Flander (SLO)
2 Nevin Galmarini (SUI)
3 Justin Reiter (USA)
5 Jasey-Jay Anderson, Mt Tremblant, QC
6 Indrik Trahan, Trois-Rivière, QC
7 Darren Gardner, Burlington, ON
8 Sebastien Beaulieu, Sherbrooke, QC
13 Michael Lambert, Toronto, ON
14 Steve Barlow, Courtice, ON
16 Richard Evanoff, Pickering, ON
17 Matthew Carter, Maryhill, ON
18 Matthew Morison, Burketon, ON

PSL, Nov. 14, 2012

Women
1 Hilde-Katrine Engeli (NOR)
2 Stefanie Mueller (SUI)
3 Caroline Calvé, Lachine, QC
5 Marianne Leeson, Burlington, ON
8 Ekaterina Zavialova, Calgary, AB
13 Ariane Lavigne, Lac-supérieur, QC

Men
1 Jasey-Jay Anderson, Mt Tremblant, QC
2 Nevin Galmarini (SUI)
3 Rok Flander (SLO)
7 Michael Lambert, Toronto, ON
11 Darren Gardner, Burlington, ON
12 Matthew Morison, Burketon, ON
13 Matthew Carter, Maryhill, ON
14 Steve Barlow, Courtice, ON
17 Sebastien Beaulieu, Sherbrooke, QC
18 Richard Evanoff, Pickering, ON
21 Indrik Trahan, Trois-Rivière, QC

Complete Results:
http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?event_id=32142&cal_suchsector=SB