Canada’s Osborne-Paradis Ready to Lead Podium Charge in Wengen

Wengen, Switzerland – Canada’s Manuel Osborne-Paradis is hoping for his third podium finish in four years on the notoriously tough Lauberhorn course in Wengen this weekend.nOsborne Paradis, of Vancouver, British Columbia, was 56th in training Wednesday following a minor crash. But history suggests the 26-year-old is more than capable of putting everything together on race day on the World Cup circuit’s longest course.

“I’m confident about my skiing here,” said Osborne-Paradis, who was second in the downhill last year, fifth in 2009 and third in 2008. “We’re getting there. It’s a process. I’m just going to hammer down on race day and see what happens.”

Thursday’s training run was canceled due to adverse weather conditions. Osborne-Paradis was 40th in Tuesday’s run but it was a similar story last year, when he struggled in training before landing on the podium on race day.

“Last year I couldn’t for the life of me get top 30 in training days and then on race day I was second,” he said. “I think I’m skiing great. My worst results are getting better but my best results aren’t there yet. I’m going to push as hard as I can.”

Calgary’s Jan Hudec is another Canadian veteran hoping to impress in downhill. He was 42nd and 45th during the training runs.

“I’m skiing well and feel confident,” said Hudec. “I’m always looking for the podium but it depends on how everything goes – there are a lot of variables. But the scenery’s beautiful, the crowd’s great. It’s a good race.”

The action starts Friday with super combined, followed by downhill on Saturday and slalom on Sunday. Osborne-Paradis and Hudec headline the team for Saturday’s marquee race. Whistler’s Robbie Dixon has returned to Canada, where he will be assessed by team doctors as he continues to recover from a concussion suffered in Bormio, Italy. Meanwhile, Erik Guay, of Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, will also sit out this weekend’s race with a back problem, but he’s skiing again and hopes to be back racing soon.

“Erik’s back seems to be improving,” said Dr. Stephen French, medical co-director for Alpine Canada Alpin. “He is working with strength and conditioning staff and looking forward to returning to competition.”

Dustin Cook, of Lac Sainte Marie, Ryan Semple, of Mont Tremblant, Quebec, and Kelby Halbert, of Bradford, Ontario, are scheduled to race in Friday’s super combined event. Canada has a strong team in place for Sunday’s slalom, including Whistler’s Michael Janyk, who was fifth in Adelboden, Switzerland, last weekend.

“We’re motivated, for sure, for the weekend races,” said Paul Kristofic, Canadian Alpine Ski Team head coach. “It’s an awesome race here and we’ve done well before.”

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