Manuel Osborne-Paradis (Vancouver, BC) has joined a select group of Canadian ski racers, following up the first World Cup win of his career with another downhill podium a day later.
Today’s race can be seen on Radio Canada Sports at 3 p.m. ET as well as CBC’s Pontiac Alpine Ski Series beginning at 5 p.m. ET (Check local listings for changes.)
Among those to reach the podium twice in consecutive days, Thomas Grandi (Canmore, AB) did it in technical events (giant slalom & slalom) on two occasions, in December of 2005 in Kranjska Gora, SLO, and again in Shigakogen, JPN three months later.
Ken Read won a World Cup race in Wengen, SUI in January of 1980 and followed that up by finishing second in a DH the following day. He also had podium finishes on consecutive days in Kitzbühel, AUT in 1982.
Gerry Sorensen won on back-to-back days in DH and the Combined in Put St. Vincent, FRA Jan 7 and Jan 8, 1984 while Laurie Graham did it in the DH in Banff, AB and Val d’Isère, FRA in 1985.
Canada’s female athlete of the 20th century, Nance Greene(-Raine) accomplished the rare feat on multiple occasions including winning back-to-back-to-back races in three different disciplines in March of 1968 in Aspen, USA.
Osborne-Paradis, winner of yesterday men’s World Cup downhill in Kvitfjell, NOR, posted the third fastest time today, finishing in one minute 32.58 seconds.
“It’s a really nice feeling to be able to do it two days in a row,” said the 25-year old Paradis who has vaulted up the men’s downhill standings in the last two days. He is now the top Canadian in any discipline, sitting fourth in the DH with 299 points.
“Today was a totally different day, totally different course,” he said. “It was a lower start because of fog at the top. It made it more of a sprint. It made it where the little mistakes did matter, you didn’t have time to make up speed.”
Klaus Kroell of Austria was the day’s best sprinter, finishing in 1:32.12 with teammate Michael Walchhofer in second, 0.27s back.
Robbie Dixon (Whistler, BC) finished seventh today for his second straight top 10 result, 0.23s behind Osborne-Paradis.
Another solid top ten for John Kucera (Calgary, AB) as well, placing eighth in 1:32.82 followed by Erik Guay (Mont-Tremblant, QC) in ninth.
“I am really happy with the third place and I am super happy that (four of) the Canadian boys were in the top 10. We are all finishing as a group and moving ahead as a group, it’s nice to share it with those guys,” Osborne-Paradis said. All four Canadians will participate in the World Cup Finals DH in Åre, SWE next week.
Development team racer Tyler Nella (Toronto, ON) was 49th while Louis-Pierre Hélie (Berthierville, QC) did not complete the shortened Olympiabakken piste on what was a challenging day weather-wise.
“Today is sort of a confirmation that yesterday wasn’t a fluke. The guys are firing on all cylinders and having a good performance on a hill that does resemble Whistler quite a bit,” said Men’s Team Head Coach Paul Kristofic, responding to a media question about the 2010 Olympic Winter Games coming to Whistler next season.
“They are able to handle a good result and stay focused, even at this stage in the season. We are pretty deep into it now, guys are pretty tired and it’s easy to lose focus. After an exciting day like yesterday to be able to regroup, refocus and have another solid day, it shows the strength of the group,” he said.
Tomorrow’s super-G in Kvitfjell is the final World Cup race before World Cup Finals.
