Manuel Osborne-Paradis ready for more

Patrick Lang 30.11.2006 09:02 Uhr

Manuel Osborne-Paradis was very close to celebrate a historical win in front of his fans – it would have been the first Canadian success in the men’s World Cup downhill in Lake Louise! He lost it by only 5/100 of a second to Marco Buechel from Liechtenstein but he certainly launched a new era for the young and ambitious Canadian team.

He surely was not too upset after the race. “At least, I wrote history for myself today,” he said with a smile after the race. “This is huge for me you know, to be on the podium here at home is just great,” added the 22-year whose father has been a course worker for years in Lake Louise. “I was aiming for top-10 and it’s a great surprise to end the race on the podium. It’s an important breakthrough for me and the team.”

“Manny” has he is called by his friends has created several interesting moments in his young World Cup career. In January 2005, he achieved quite a performance in finishing 14th in his first World Cup downhill in Chamonix after strong performances in training – a month before turning 21!

He scored more points in the next three downhill races and qualified for the Bormio World Championships, finishing a strong 19th on the treacherous “Stelvio” course. In December 2005, he was 12th in Val d’Isère – his best result prior Lake Louise 2006. Two more top-20 finishes at Val Gardena and Bormio propelled him later on into the Olympic team. He lived up to his expectations ending in 12th place – best Canadian not far at all from the podium!

Manny felt strong
These encouraging results boosted his moral and his determination. He trained hard and well along his team-mates last summer and his level of confidence was pretty high during training this week. “I felt strong so I achieved a series of solid runs which helped me to be really focused and aggressive today.”

Yet Manuel admitted that he didn’t feel so good prior the race. “I didn’t actually feel that good this morning,” he said afterwards. “I just started listening to music and got a little more pumped up. It’s the first race and you have to go for it as hard as possible.”

Interestingly enough his serviceman Gernot Gasser was even more nervous at the start. “Gernot was pretty tense today,” Manuel added. “He was humming and having about two pairs of skis with him. He was looking at the clouds, looking at everything and he didn’t know which one to choose. He said “I’ll decide ten seconds before you go!”. Then one racer before me, the sun came through the clouds and he said “These ones” and threw them on the snow as I was getting ready. Apparently he made the good choice!”

Manuel enjoyed the party around him after the race but remained cool. “It’s a long season and there’s no point getting a big head over one race,” he explained afterwards. “But I’m definitely going to enjoy it. It’s definitely better than sulking and going back to my room for a nap!”

The Vancouver native champion is appreciated in his group for his relaxed manners and his sense of humour. Sometimes he plays the guitar and sings a few songs – for instance in holidays in Maui where is like to surf. When asked about his preferred country his answers is “Mexico!” adding that “Who can’t love anybody making tequila?”

When commenting his first appearance on the World Cup tour in Chamonix he said that “It was just a lot of fun. Those guys look like way better skiers on TV. TV even makes me look good!”

Osborne-Paradis is of course very excited about competing soon on his favorite course in Whistler Mountain where the 2010 Olympics are scheduled. “I know it as well as my pocket, I skied so often there” he says.

Commenting about his progress on skis he says “You have to be a bit of wildman to be a downhiller. Some of my practice runs, my training runs I've been kind of known to let it all go a little bit more. Last the two years I haven't necessarily been the best skier so I've had to try other ways to get faster, like just have bigger balls than everyone else.”

A strong Canadian team
The most frequently question (MFQ) which now goes around Team Canada concerns this young group compared to the legendary “Crazy Canucks” from the 1970’s which strongly challenged the Austrian for so many years. Can the new generation of Osborne-Paradis, Erik and Stefan Guay, François Bourque, John Kucera, Patrick Biggs, Michael Janyk do as well as the famous group formed by Ken Read, now CEO of team Canada, Steve Podborski, an influent manager at Telus, Dave Irwin and the late Dave Murray?

“It’s difficult to compare us, but for sure we will try our best to honor them and built the strongest possible team for the 2010 Games,” said Manuel who was born in 1984 when the last “Canuck” Steve Podborski ended his glorious career with a third and last win at Garmisch-Partenkirchen and an 8th place at the Olympics in Sarajevo. “Pod” was 3rd at the 1980 Olympics before clinching the World Cup downhill title in 1982! It will not be easy but for sure they will try their best!