Kitzbühel, Austria –Canada’s Jan Hudec is a rookie again – at the age of 30.
The veteran speed skier, from Calgary, Alberta, has been competing on the World Cup circuit for a decade but this week he’s preparing to make his debut in the legendary Hahnenkamm downhill in Kitzbühel, Austria.
“I think I’ll be the oldest rookie ever in Kitzbühel,” said Hudec, who raced a super G in Kitzbühel in 2009 but didn’t finish the race. “It’s pretty interesting considering I turned 30 last August. I didn’t think it would take me this long to ski Kitzbühel, so hopefully it will be great to have a start. I’ve had lots of time to prepare for it but I don’t know if that’s a good thing mentally. Everyone always talks about Kitzbühel as being so tough, not only mentally but physically challenging.”
Hudec has started 63 World Cup races since 2002 but none of them have been on the famous Streif course, which has a reputation for being the most demanding downhill on the circuit. Injuries and a series of other circumstances, including weather, have kept Hudec from racing the Hahnenkamm downhill until now.
“It’s been a combination of injuries, a couple of races were cancelled and just in general, the timing – I guess the timing wasn’t right,” Hudec said. “It’s kind of funny going to a race at this age being legitimately a rookie.
“I’ve seen it enough times. I’ve raced a super G there but I’ve never … raced the downhill.”
Canada has a unique and special history at Kitzbühel. Crazy Canuck Ken Read was the first non-European to win the downhill in 1980 and his famous victory was followed by successive wins for Canadians in 1981 and 1982 (Steve Podborski) and 1983 (Todd Brooker). No Canadian has won the downhill at Kitzbühel since, although Rob Boyd was on the podium in 1991, when he was third.
As the most demanding and intimidating course on the World Cup circuit, Kitzbühel has also been the site of some spectacular and sometimes terrifying crashes. Canada’s Brian Stemmle suffered a broken pelvis, internal injuries and a subsequent infection during a 1989 race at Kitzbühel. It was considered by many to be among the worst crashes in ski racing history but Stemmle showed incredible courage and perseverance to fight back and eventually return to competitive skiing.
“I’m anxious, obviously, because I’ve never done it,” Hudec said. “I don’t think age matters when it comes to Kitzbühel. I think the first time down there is always a little bit more intimidating, but at the same time I’m obviously way better prepared now than I was when I was 20 years old or 21 – when guys start racing it. I’m anxious but excited at the same time and I’m going to take that energy to the start.”
Hudec’s teammate Erik Guay, who is also 30, has competed in five World Cup downhills at Kitzbühel.
“(My teammates) asked me what kind of excuses I’ll come up with this year as to why I can’t run it,” Hudec said, laughing. “Hopefully I don’t have any excuses. Hopefully I’ll be ready to hammer down in Kitzbühel.”
Hudec plans to do everything he can to be ready for all that the Streif can throw at him during Saturday’s downhill. He was 50th in training Tuesday and there are more training runs scheduled for today and Thursday followed by a super G – albeit not the same challenge as the downhill – on Friday. He plans to go over video of previous winners’ runs and will also ask some Kitzbühel veterans for advice.
“I ran into Hans Knauss, one of my favourite Austrian racers, and he said he would give me some tips,” Hudec said. “It’s weird how it’s all happened but hopefully this year I get to run it. I’m excited about it.”