Emily Brydon of Fernie opened the 2009 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships by finishing in 13th today in the ladies super-G. Brydon, the top Canadian on the very challenging Piste Rhône-Alpes, finished in one minute 22.95 seconds.

“I left the start gate and gave it all that I had,” said Brydon, whose career-best World Championships super-G result is 12th in St. Anton, AUT in 2001. “I felt I did the best that I could, it just wasn’t enough today. I have been sick for the last 10 days so I knew I didn’t have a lot of energy.”

American Lindsey Vonn, currently the overall leader in the ladies World Cup standings, captured the first World Championships gold medal of her career, finishing in 1:20.73. Vonn has two silver medals from Åre, SWE in 2007. French favourite Marie Marchand-Arvier placed second, 0.34s back. Austria’s Andrea Fischbacher was just 0.06s back of Marchard-Arvier, good enough to capture the bronze.

Britt Janyk (Whistler, BC) finished 17th in 1:24.58.

“It was really rough and bumpy, one of those courses that doesn’t feel good anywhere,” said Janyk, who was fourth in the World Championships SG in Åre, SWE in 2007. “I expected that but this was our first time down the hill really racing it and it was tough.”

Kelly VanderBeek (Kitchener, ON) finished 23rd in 1:25.83 while Larisa Yurkiw (Owen Sound, ON) did not finish the difficult course set.

CBC has live coverage of each men’s and ladies race on www.cbcsports.ca as well as cable channel bold. The CBC website is also going to carry highlights and athlete features throughout the event.

On the main network, the Pontiac Alpine Ski Series on CBC has coverage beginning Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. ET with more coverage getting underway on Feb. 14 and Feb. 15 at 3 p.m.

Radio-Canada Sports will report on the men’s DH from Val d’Isère on Saturday, also presenting a complete package on the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Dec. 14 beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET.