Sölden, Austria – Two Canadian Alpine Ski Team veterans could be forgiven for feeling like rookies when the 2011-12 World Cup season gets underway in Sölden, Austria, this weekend.
Robbie Dixon, of Whistler, British Columbia, and Jean-Philippe Roy, of Ste.-Flavie, Quebec, sat out the second half of last season due to injury but look set to make their competitive comebacks in Sunday’s men’s giant slalom curtain-raiser, alongside youngster Dustin Cook, of Lac Sainte Marie, Quebec. Their return comes as a youthful Canadian women’s squad officially gets the season started Saturday when the duo Marie-Michèle Gagnon, of Lac-Etchemin, Quebec, and Marie-Pier Préfontaine, of Saint Sauveur, Quebec, compete in the women’s giant slalom.
“The head’s good, the body’s good and life’s good,” said Dixon, who hasn’t raced since suffering a concussion in a crash in Bormio, Italy, in December 2010. “Obviously the start position is going to be rough. I will be fighting my way from the back but I’ve done it before. This is the first race for a while but it’s full-on for me – I want to come back full-bore.”
Dixon made his name as a speed skier, recording all 10 of his top-10 World Cup results in downhill and super G, but this weekend’s race gives the 26-year-old a chance to get his legs under him after a long spell out with concussion-related symptoms. Last Saturday, Dixon had the chance to spend the day training on the race track in Sölden, an opportunity he was delighted to have so close to the season-opener.
“(Coach) ‘Johno’ McBride was able to get us in for the day on the race hill. It was great to get out there and see the course, bring it back in the head and just kind of refresh,” said Dixon. “It helps with the nerves because I’ve only skied it four times in my whole career so far.”
Roy, who struggled with a knee injury last year, says he’s feeling good after a solid summer of training, while Cook is looking forward to making only his second giant slalom start at the World Cup level.
“I’m stoked. It’s been my goal this year to ski some giant slalom,” said Cook. “It’s been a great summer. I’m feeling strong and definitely ready to start racing.”
Paul Kristofic, head coach of Canada’s men’s team, said the goal on opening weekend is to get into the top 30. Due to their rankings in giant slalom, Canada’s skiers won’t receive favorable starting positions.
“We are sort of in a rebuild mode with giant slalom,” said Kristofic. “Those guys both struggled with injuries. J.P.’s capable of skiing strong and getting results, but he will have to battle on the first run. Hopefully he will get into the top 30.”
Canada’s women’s team is short of experienced speed skiers due to injuries and the retirement of Whistler’s Britt Janyk, but a young technical squad is looking to start the season strongly in giant slalom and slalom.
“I can’t wait to start racing again. This summer we had unbelievable training and the girls pushed each other daily,” said Gagnon, who finished the 2010-11 season ranked in the top 25 in the world in slalom, giant slalom and combined. “The level of skiing in our team has gone up a lot already since last year. We are all physically and mentally stronger.”
Gagnon recorded a career-best fifth place World Cup finish in giant slalom last season and is hoping to challenge for her first podium this year.
“I feel like this year might be a big breakthrough for our team in slalom and giant slalom,” said the 22-year-old. “We all have more experience on the World Cup tour now and we are hungry.”
Following the season-opening giant slalom races in Sölden, the next alpine World Cup stop is Levi, Finland, for women’s and men’s slalom races November 12-13. The first speed event of the year will be held in Alberta, Canada at Lake Louise on November 26-27 for the men.
“With the amount of injuries we’ve had on the speed side we really want to focus on rehabilitating everyone,” said athletic director Robert Rousselle. “On the men’s team we have talents like Erik Guay, who has had back issues, and Robbie Dixon, who is coming back from injury. For the men’s technical team, we expect a strong ramping up as the season goes forward, building step by step. They are a talented group and they are targeting a podium.
“On the ladies’ team, we expect skiers like Gagnon to move into the top 10 in the overall rankings while, for the younger ones, it’s a learning curve. The ladies’ speed team is in a rebuilding process. We have some veterans on the road back from injury but it’s a very young group,” acknowledged Rousselle.