The Austrian city of Kirchberg, AUT celebrated Canada’s ski racing success at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Val d’Isère, FRA by hosting a celebration for World downhill champion John Kucera (Calgary, AB) and slalom bronze medalist Mike Janyk (Whistler, BC).

Hundreds of residents of the small municipality, the European training centre for Canada’s national alpine ski teams, came out for a parade and 30-minute ceremony yesterday in the centre of town.

“It is great when you have partners like the town of Kirchberg. They have been so welcoming to the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, standing behind us and supporting us. It gives us a sense of home, even when we are so far from Canada,” said Kucera, who won the men’s World Downhill championship last week in Val d’Isère, FRA.

Kucera and Janyk, joined by double World Champion Lindsey Vonn of the USA, who was also being honoured, were paraded through the centre of the small community as hundreds of onlookers cheered. Members of the Canadian and US ski teams were also in the parade along with a marching band and various other community members.

The Canadian medalists were dressed in traditional Austrian lederhosen and presented with a personalized rodel, an Austrian sled, during the ceremony. Vonn was also presented with a goat which she, Kucera and Janyk posed for photos with during the ceremony. The event was covered live by Austrian television station ORF.

“I am really honoured that the people of Kirchberg came out and did that for us,” said Janyk. “It’s important to me that all my teammates and the coaching staff are here too. John and I could not have been on the podium without their support, pushing us as hard as they did. It’s a great achievement for the whole team and great to celebrate with the people of Kirchberg.”

Kucera and Janyk also earn the use of a GM vehicle of one year among other performance incentives with their medal-winning performances at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

Kirchberg, with an estimated population of 5,000 residents, is located in Tyrol, AUT, about six kilometers from Kitzbühel. The Canadian Alpine Ski Team has had a European training base there for the past season.

As part of the training partnership, which is overseen by ACA Director of Ladies CAST and Special Projects Patrick Riml, Canadian ski races have access to a local piste for training as well as a hotel and storage facilities.

Kucera or Janyk quickly returned to training as the World Cup season continues this weekend with giant slalom, super combined and super-G races in Sestriere, ITA followed by GS and slalom races in Kranjska Gora, SLO the following weekend.

The ladies are in Tarvisio, ITA for a super combined on Friday followed by a downhill, super-G.