Canadian skier Britt Janyk races in the Women's Downhill second training of the FIS Ski World Cup in Lake Louise, Canada, December 1, 2010. Getty Images/Emmanuel DunandEMMANUEL DUNAND/Getty Images
Reports of Britt Janyk's departure from the national ski team were premature.
The Whistler, B.C., veteran is staking her claim to stay with the Canadian squad next season - despite suggestions from Own the Podium officials that this would be her final year with the team. Janyk earned her 15th national title at the GMC Canadian championships at Nakiska, Alta., on Monday, tying one of young gun prospects for first spot in the super G.
Janyk finished in 1 minute 4.47 seconds and appeared to have first spot sewn up when 18-year-old Madison McLeish, of Canmore, Alta., whipped down the course in an identical time of 1:04.47 - pulling her even with one of the skiers she'd emulated.
"I wasn't expecting this when I came through the finishing line. I'm stoked," said McLeish, a member of the Raymond James Alberta Ski Team and part of the Prospect Group.
"It's very cool. Britt is a World Cup winner - she's a fantastic skier. It feels really great to share the podium with her."
Janyk - who has made her name as a skier in speed events but is contemplating a shift to the technical side - was happy to share the title with a member of the team's next generation.
"It was good - a really fun super G," said Janyk. "Madi is definitely a hard worker. She's with the Prospect team and it's really good to see someone right up top."
Hugues Ansermoz, head coach of the ladies' team, was impressed with McLeish's skiing.
"I think it's a great result for Madi," he said. "Britt skied well and had a great run. When I saw her coming down I thought she was going to win but Madi showed that she has the potential to go very fast.
"Britt is better with really tough, icy courses but she skied well. The level has been high here. The girls are attacking."
Marie-Michèle Gagnon, of Lac-Etchemin, Que., followed up her win in Sunday's super-combined with third place in the super G after clocking a time of 1:04.67.
"It was generally okay," said Gagnon, a hugely talented technical skier. "It was really fun today. I'm here to work on things - it was nice and solid."