Canadian skis to 2nd World Cup medal

Erin Mielzynski proved her World Cup victory was no fluke.

The Canadian skier captured her second career World Cup medal Friday, winning bronze in the women’s slalom race.

The Guelph, Ont., native had a breakout result last March when she won a World Cup slalom race in Germany, becoming the first Canadian woman to do so since 1971.

She thinks her second medal should put to rest any suggestions that she is a one-race wonder.

“I feel a bit of relief,” she said via conference call Friday. “After Ofterschwang I know there were some comments about whether it was a fluke.

“It’s just nice to have that put at bay and to move on with the year.”

Friday’s race was won by American teenage phenom Mikaela Shiffrin, who finished first in both runs to take the victory by 1.19 seconds with a combined time of two minutes 1.73 seconds. Sweden’s Frida Hansdotter was second in 2:02.92, while Mielzynski was third in 2:03.49.

Mielzynski said she simplified her approach Friday and concentrated on making mistake-free runs.

“I didn’t want to put it into fifth gear,” she said. “I just wanted a consistent fourth gear and to make it down with no mistakes and just ski sold.”

Marie-Michele Gagnon, of Lac-Etchemin, Que., and Brittany Phelan, of MontTremblant, Que., were eighth and 10th, respectively.