Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany – Canada’s Erik Guay has been crowned the downhill world champion after a golden performance at Garmisch-Partenkirchen on Saturday, successfully defending Canada’s 2009 title.nThe 29-year-old, of Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, laid down a scintillating early run on the Kandahar course to give Canada back-to-back world champions in downhill, following John Kucera’s victory at Val d’Isere in 2009. Guay becomes the first Canadian male alpine skier to win gold at the World Ski Championships as well as the Crystal Globe, after claiming the overall World Cup title in super G at Garmisch last year.
“I’m on another planet right now. I’m pretty emotional and I’m just trying to take it all in,” said Guay, who now has five podiums, including three wins, at Garmisch since 2007. “John (Kucera) won it two years ago and I was there to see that. He wasn’t able to defend his title but I’m glad to keep it going. It’s a pretty special feeling.”
Wearing bib No. 10, Guay laid down a run of 1:58.41 that was never beaten as course conditions deteriorated rapidly with warm temperatures. Swiss veteran Didier Cuche was 0.32 seconds back in second place and Christof Innerhofer, of Italy, was third, stopping the clock at 1:59.17.
“It wasn’t flawless but it was a good run, for sure,” said Guay. “I was able to stay calm and stick to my game plan and hit the really key areas with speed. I was pushing to my limits.”
Guay, whose family was watching the race back in Calgary, said it was special for him to be able to extend Canada’s grip on the downhill title won in 2009 by Calgary’s Kucera, who is currently working his way back from a serious leg injury.
“It seems like the planets aligned. I had a great start number and my back felt good,” said Guay, who has been struggling with a nagging back injury. “I always feel good when I come to Garmisch. It’s a hill where I feel like I can charge everywhere. It’s a pretty special place for me.”
Paul Kristofic, Canada’s head coach, said Guay’s performance and result was a victory for the whole Canadian Alpine Ski Team.
“That was a huge effort from Erik, a really courageous push,” said Kristofic. “There are a lot of emotions right now. It’s been a battle this year but this is something that shows we are doing the right things.”
The Canadian men’s speed team has been hit hard by injuries this season, with Manuel-Osborne Paradis, of Vancouver, British Columbia, the latest skier to go down.
“It’s one of those things where you get everyone working hard towards a common goal. We’ve had a lot of setbacks,” said Kristofic. “It’s been a huge effort from the racers but also from all the trainers, doctors, all the others involved. It’s a massive amount of people and it’s the culmination of a lot of things.”
Steven Nyman, of Heber, Utah, finished 13th on his 29th birthday to lead the Americans Saturday, followed closely by Franconia, N.H.’s Bode Miller who struggled to find speed, finishing 15th.
“World Champs is about medals, but I also got something out of it by getting points and moving up on the start list. I was charging, that was the main thing,” said Nyman. “I definitely had an advantage staring earlier, that’s why I’m a little bummed because I had a great opportunity to do well. Sure, it got warmer and started deteriorating and getting bumpy, but you can still put it in there. If you see what you need to do and you go for it, you can do it just like [Didier] Cuche and Beat Feuz did.”
“I tipped over on my hip at the very top, but I don’t think that cost me all that much,” added Miller. “I made a great recovery and then I gassed it from there down. I’m happy with the way I skied. I was pushing the line and cutting off line almost every section of the course. My legs had good power, I felt strong all the way to the finish and I was a little concerned about that because it’s been so bumpy. It’s disappointing, but some days in ski racing there’s just not much else you can do. Maybe I could have tucked more, but that’s not going to make up two and half seconds. I felt like I gave it everything.”
Travis Ganong, of Squaw Valley, Calif., wrapped up the U.S. results with 24th despite injuring his left hand on a gate just over 30 seconds in the race.
“I think I might have broken my hand,” Ganong said. “There was a delay coming onto the flat and I hit my hand on the base of the gate. I was just pushing it trying to get a little extra line and felt it immediately. I lost my pole, then went to grab it back and couldn’t grip it at all. I was holding it with two fingers trying to tuck.
“It’s my first World Champs, I’m just excited to be here and I learned a lot,” Ganong concluded. “I know what it takes to win here and I have the speed, I know that. I can’t wait till the next ones.”
OFFICIAL RESULTS
2011 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany – February 12, 2011
Downhill
1. Erik Guay, Canada, 1:58.41
2. Didier Cuche, Switzerland, 1:58.73
3. Christof Innerhofer, Italy, 1:59.17