Bromont, QC – The eagerly awaited $25,000 Via Rail Double Slalom made quite an impact on this second to last day of the International Bromont presented by CN. The concept is simple: a team made up of two riders performs the same course in parallel. The fastest will earn a spot in the quarter-final, then on to the semi-final, to at last reach the podium. Among the competitors were speed masters Yann Candele, François Lamontagne, Mario Deslauriers and Nathalie Mathers. For the first time, Vanessa Robert of St-Bruno was also in the running. Eight teams signed on for the challenge.
Yann Candele, François Lamontagne, Krystel Roch of Quebec, Vanessa Robert, Ontario resident Taylor Bland and Mario Deslauriers took to the course for the quarter-final. In the semi-final, Yann Candele, François Lamontagne, Vanessa Robert and Taylor Bland were still standing. We salute Mario Deslauriers’ sportsmanship in helping Ms. Bland, a young rider, reach the semi-final. In the finale, it was François Lamontagne over Yann Candele, and Vanessa Robert dominated. The duel would ultimately take place between the two Québec natives.
Although Vanessa Robert owns the best times throughout the competition, François Lamontagne charges ahead and gives it his all. The two riders are locked in such a close race that a photo finish is necessary to determine the winner. François Lamontagne of St-Eustache, Sport Canada’s Excellence Young Athlete for 2009, claims victory with his horse Unik Circa.