Being bunched together can be a good thing. Take the Austrian skiers on Saturday, when they dominated the season-opening Audi FIS World Cup downhill at Lake Louise, nailing down gold and silver and putting three men in the top six. Take the Swiss skiers in Sunday afternoon’s super-G.
Tobias Gruenenfelder — a first-time winner a day after turning 33 years old — and Carlo Janka placed 1-2. Countryman Didier Cuche ended up fifth. Then there were the Canadians. They were clumped up in the standings. Pleased? Not exactly.
Manuel Osborne-Paradis of North Vancouver, B.C. (one minutes 33.47 seconds), was 15th; Erik Guay of Mont-Tremblant, Que. (1:33.48), was 16th and Robbie Dixon of Whistler, B.C. (1:33.49) was 17th. “I’m a little speechless right now,” said Dixon. “I came out wanting to win, to get on that podium. I felt it was possible. I guess I’ve got to keep trying. “I’m obviously disappointed with the results. I know I can be better.”Despite the Canadians’ tepid start to the World Cup season, Alpine Canada president Max Gartner was reluctant to be critical.
“Obviously, we come here and we want to do well . . . we want to showcase our team,” said Gartner, speaking to reporters minutes after a couple of Canadians — Francois Bourque of New Richmond, Que., had veered off course and Jan Hudec of Calgary settled for 33rd spot. “I have no worries, the season’s just starting. No major concerns for my part, but we wish we would have delivered a podium performance — that was the goal coming here. I’m sure the guys are not happy that they didn’t do that.
“Unfortunately — and I don’t want to sound like I’m making excuses — the guys had a rough training season. So we’re a little behind the 8-ball in preparation goes.”Unlike Dixon, Osborne-Paradis showed little frustration.
“Other than my (first-place) last year, I haven’t had the ultimate super-G runs,” Osborne-Paradis said. “I really like the way I was skiing there. I mean, just like downhill, I need to fix up certain little mistakes. But my super-G in the last few years . . . it’s really evolved. I believe I deserve to be in the top 15 now. I have my skiing up to where I can push out of the start gate and actually be with those top-15 guys.
“Obviously, it hasn’t been the greatest weekend, but it’s been a weekend that I can really build on. I’m not leaving here disappointed, which is a good thing. Because there might be a couple of guys that are (disappointed) and it’s a long season when you get in that frame of mind.”
Rounding out the Canadian performances were Louis-Pierre Helie of Berthierville, Que., in 49th, and Dustin Cook of Ottawa in 50th. “It’s a tough game,” said Gartner. “I still very much believe that our guys are in the hunt and are able to win. So no major concerns. Disappointed that we didn’t do it on the home turf for the Canadians. We’ve been really successful here in the past. I’m really excited about the season.”