Summerland’s Kripps slides to another silver
KOENIGSSEE, Germany — Canada’s Justin Kripps and Cameron Stones claimed a silver medal in World Cup bobsleigh on Saturday.
Kripps of Summerland and brakeman Stones of Whitby, Ont., were fastest in the first of two runs, but were beaten by Germany’s Francesco Friedrich and Martin Grothkopp in the second heat.
Canada finished .14 seconds back of the Germans.
It was the second runner-up result for Kripps and Stones in as many weeks after taking silver Jan. 5 in Altenberg, Germany.
“To be competitive and pulling top start times is what we need to win medals,” said Kripps. “Cam is doing a great job. With all of the retirements we’ve had after the Olympics, I didn’t know where we would be, but Cam has stepped up. He has been fully committed, is working hard and I’m really proud of him.”
Kripps piloted Canada to two-man gold with brakeman Alexander Kopacz at last year’s Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
His Canadian sled and a German sled piloted by Friedrich posted identical total times to tie for gold there.
It was Kripps’ 10th career World Cup two-man podium to go along with his World Championship silver in Koniggssee and his Olympic title. He also locked up his Overall World Cup two-man title last year with a bronze-medal on this track.
“I usually feel like I’ll get a good result here, but more than that I just like sliding here. I like most of the tracks around the world, but I just have a lot of fun on this track,” said Kripps.
Germany’s Johannes Lochner and Christian Rasp took bronze on Saturday.
Olympic champion Mariama Jamanka of Germany teamed with Annika Drazek to win the women’s race for their third victory in four starts this season.
Elana Meyers Taylor and Lake Kwaza of the U.S. were second.
Edmonton’s Alysia Rissling and Kristen Bujnowski of London, Ont., had the top Canadian sled in ninth.
In Sunday’s four-man race, Germany’s Johannes Lochner drove to a victory, leading after the first heat and holding on to beat the sled driven by Latvia’s Oskars Kibermanis. Lochner crossed the line in 48.77 and posted a two-run time of 1:37.74. Kibermanis was second and the German sled driven by Francesco Friedrich was third.
Canada’s Kripps, Stones, Ryan Sommer and Benjamin Coakwell were fifth, 0.87 seconds off the leaders. The other Canadian sled that features Kelowna’s Keefer Joyce and former Okanagan Sun football player Dexter Janke finished 17th.