Chamonix, France – Canada’s downhill skiers look well placed to push for the podium in Chamonix this weekend after both Erik Guay and Manuel Osborne-Paradis finished in the top 10 in the final training run on Friday.nGuay, of Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, was second-fastest Friday and has bib No. 11 going into Saturday’s downhill race.
“Thursday was a tough day so it was good to go out there and get my confidence back up,” said Guay, of finishing 36th in Thursday’s training run. “After today I’m feeling good and I’m ready to challenge.”
Guay put together two solid results in Kitzbühel last weekend on his return from a back injury. The 29-year-old said he’s happy to be starting 11th and is hoping the weather cooperates after experiencing strong winds during training.
“I think it’s the earlier, the better tomorrow,” he said of his starting position. “I feel I’m skiing technically strong. I just have to go out there and do it.”
Osborne-Paradis followed up a 29th-place finish during Thursday’s training run with the seventh-fastest run on Friday. He will wear bib No. 20 Saturday.
“I feel pretty good,” said Osborne-Paradis. “I’m getting to the front of the boot and just trying to get over this slump. I need to find my stride before World Championships.”
Ben Thomsen, of Invermere, British Columbia, who has been in impressive form in recent weeks, was 28th in training on Thursday and 50th Friday. He will start 49th Saturday.
Head Canadian coach Paul Kristofic said it was good to see Osborne-Paradis and Guay, in particular, skiing so well.
“They are picking up the pace nicely. It’s definitely a shot in the arm,” he said. “Now we are in a much better position to challenge for a result.”
Kristofic said while it’s important not to read too much into training results, the team is upbeat ahead of Saturday’s downhill.
“It definitely makes you go into the race feeling confident,” he said. “At least they are in the game and for sure, that’s positive.”
Ryan Semple, who was due to race this weekend, will instead return to Canada after suffering a knee injury during training on Thursday. Semple, of Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, crashed during his run and injured his medial collateral ligament (MCL). The 28-year-old does not require surgery but is unlikely to return to competitive action this season.
“He’s going to require extensive rehabilitation in Canada,” said Dr. Stephen French, medical co-director for Alpine Canada Alpin.
Semple, who was 11th in the World Cup combined event in Kitzbühel last weekend, was due to take part in Sunday’s super combined race in Chamonix.
Calgary’s Jan Hudec, who tweaked his back during the warm-up in Kitzbühel, has responded well to treatment. He is due to re-join the team in Europe sometime this weekend.