The Women Conquer the Final Regular Season NorAm Cup Races in Ontario

Featured Image: A slalom podium at the Devils Glen NorAm Cup. Credit: Maria Burton

The North American (NorAm) Cup series continued into its final regular season races. The women competed in two days of slalom at Devils Glen, Ontario, and transitioned to two days of giant slalom at Georgian Peaks, Ontario. 

The two quant, country club-style resorts are prime for hosting tech events. Georgian Peaks is the only ski area in Southern Ontario with enough vertical rise to host a FIS-sanctioned GS race. But, both race hills offer a mix of terrain, ideal for the NorAm Cup. Also, the breathtaking views of the lake from the top of the course are worth boasting about, and the strong influence of Alpine racing in the culture makes this event a truly unique experience.

Each racer gave it their all throughout the four days to secure a spot or improve their ranking for the US Nationals in Sun Valley, Idaho, and the NorAm Cup Finals in Panorama Resort, British Columbia. 

Devils Glen Slalom Day 1

The women were in luck as the first day was met with full sun and cold temperatures, providing great lighting and ideal snow conditions. The women were able to maintain aggression from start to finish of both sets. 

Victoria Palla of Great Britain, skiing for GB Snowsport, took advantage of bib-2 and went full gas down both courses. Despite not having the winning time in either of the runs, her consistent performance propelled her to the top of the podium.

The victory marked Palla’s third NorAm win of her career and fourth time on the podium. Her achievements over the last few seasons have given her the opportunity to compete on the World Cup level. 

She has had three appearances on the World Cup circuit in slalom, but was unable to finish any of them. Nevertheless, she is determined to continue racing in the World Cup and score her first points. 

Elisabeth Bocock of the Stifel US Ski Team trailed Palla’s time by +0.13, earning a 2nd-place finish. This result was Bocock’s third NorAm podium finish this season and her first ever in slalom. 

She has been working to be more consistent, especially in her slalom. After the last NorAm, she stated, “Historically I have really struggled in finding some consistency and speed in slalom. It wasn’t often that I flipped a NorAm slalom last season, but I worked on it a lot this summer and things have started to click more,” she continued, “I’m still working on my consistency, so hopefully I can show that a little bit in these next NorAms.” 

Conquering her first NorAm slalom podium was a big achievement for Bocock. 

Australian Madison Hoffman, also skiing for the University of Utah rounded out the podium, only +0.01 off Bocock’s 2nd-place result. 

The 3rd-place finish was Hoffman’s first 2024 NorAm podium and her fifth of her career. The athlete is shining, she achieved podium three times in University Races and scored her first World Cup points in Levi this season.  

Canadian Arianne Forget who finished second at the last NorAm slalom in Stratton Mountain Resort merely missed the podium, by +0.08. 

Devils Glen Slalom Day 2

After barely missing the podium on the first day, Arianne Forget (CAN) came into the day eager to achieve more. She ignited out of the start gate on the first run and held the lead until Sarah Bennett, skiing for Alpine Canada Alpin, pulled ahead by -0.18.

Going into the second run, Forget knew she had to send it from top to bottom to be victorious. She threw down a winning run, which made up the time needed to grasp 1st place, her third NorAm victory. 

Forget brought confidence into this race series after having her inaugural World Cup start in Kronplatz. She stated on social media, “First WC in the book, couldn’t be more grateful to be here today surrounded by amazing people.” 

Bennett (ACA) achieved her tenth NorAm podium with two solid runs. US Athlete Kendahl Roufa, skiing for the Colby College Ski Team, rounded out the podium, +1.22 behind Foreget’s winning time. It was Roufa’s first NorAm podium of her career. 

Elisabeth Bocock started strong by securing a podium position on the first day. However, she faced a setback on the second day with a slower first run. Despite this, she made up for lost time with an impressive performance on the second run. Ultimately, she concluded the competition in 8th place.

Her teammates, Zoe Zimmerman (6th) and Liv Moritz (7th), also had a commendable day, joining her in the top 10. 

Unfortunately, Victoria Palla, the winner of the first day of the slaloms, was unable to finish her second run. 

Georgian Peaks Giant Slalom Day 1

The women transitioned skis and peaks for the final two days of the event. After two successful days in Devil’s Glen, Arianne Forget changed up the tempo seamlessly. She started the GS race with a speedy first run time, -0.51 ahead of the field.

The first run gave her the leverage for the second run. Although she did not win the second run, Forget finished the day with a substantial lead (-0.84), placing her on the top step. 

Finishing in 2nd place, Sarah Bennett achieved her third giant slalom NorAm podium. 

Victoria Palla had two consistently strong runs, which earned her a 3rd-place result, her 5th time stepping onto the NorAm podium. 

It was excitingly close when Adriana Jelinkova of the Czech Republic came from outside the top 30, wearing bib-31, and merely missed the podium by +0.01. Jelinkova also achieved 4th place the day prior, moving up from bib-20. 

Jelinkova is not new to the NorAm circuit, but this Canadian series was her first NorAm event of 2024. She has been focusing on the World Cup circuit and has scored three times this season in WC GS. Her WC career-best was in 2021, where she achieved 11th place in the Kranjska Gora GS. 

Stifel US Ski Team athlete Liv Moritz attained another top-10 finish, completing the day in 6th place, the athlete’s eighth top-10 finish in a 2024 NorAm.

Georgian Peaks Giant Slalom Day 2

Today was the last day of the NorAm Cup in Ontario, and the women geared up this morning for a fiercely competitive giant slalom race.

Justine Lamontagne of Canada was the first to kick out of the gate, setting the pace of the first run (47.99). However, wearing bib-2, Mary Bocock jumped ahead of Lamontagne’s time by +0.86, setting a more substantial lead.

Nevertheless, her sister, Elisabeth Bocock, and Canadian, Adrianne Forget, came down ahead of Mary’s time. Elisabeth Bocock won the first run by +0.14 over Forget’s time.

Sadly, after the first run, weather moved in, and lightning was in the area. Safety concerns caused the cancellation of the second run, so the race could not be completed today.

The men are also racing their final regular season NorAm Cup races in Mont Ste-Marie, Quebec. The men will wrap up on Thursday, February 29th.

The NorAm finals will be April 1st- April 11th in Panorama Resort, British Columbia.