Skiing: Canadians take crowns at Coronet Peak

Coronet Peak skifield. Photo / Miles Holden

Canada almost managed a clean sweep of the podium places for both men and women in the slalom races of the Australia New Zealand Cup series at Coronet Peak.

Patrick Biggs won the men's race in 1min 30.28s, from compatriots David Donaldson and Trevor White.

Harrison Steedman's 10th was the pick of the New Zealand performances.

The country's two leading skiers, Ben Griffin and Tim Cafe, failed to finish.

Canadians Marie-Michele Gagnon and Madison Irwin took first and third places in the women's race, Gagnon recording a winning combined time of 1:36.49. Second spot went to American Hailey Duke.

The big result for New Zealand came with the fourth placing for Sarah Jarvis, in 1:41.19.

American Olympic champions dominated the men's giant slalom race. Warner Nickerson won the event, clocking a combined 1min 38.77, from 2006 Olympic gold medallist Ted Ligety with five-time Olympic medallist Bode Miller third.

The best New Zealander was Vancouver Olympian from this year, Ben Griffin of Ohakune, ninth, in 1:40.20. Canadians took the top two spots in the women's race, with Marie-Prier Prefontaine winning from Gagnon.

Norway's Chloe Margrethe Fausa took third, with Jarvis the pick of the New Zealand racers in ninth.