There are three Canadians scheduled to race the legendary downhill in Kitzbühel, AUT on Saturday as the 69th edition of the Hahnenkamm-Rennen, known to some as ‘the Superbowl of ski racing,’ grips the attention of the ski racing world once again this week.

World Cup winners Erik Guay (Mont-Tremblant, QC) and John Kucera (Calgary, AB), along with four-time World Cup podium finisher Manuel Osborne-Paradis (Vancouver, BC) will attack the treacherous Strief course in Saturday’s DH.

Things got of to somewhat of a slow start today as downhill training had to be canceled because of persistent snowfall in Kitzbühel, AUT throughout the day. Racers did, however, get their first look at the course during the early morning inspection.

“With all the snow, the course is going to be easier. I didn’t say ‘easy,’ after all it’s Kitzbühel,” said Osborne-Paradis, who will compete here for the third time in his career. He said that experience will serve him well this week.

“It’s still looks tough and it’s going to be hard to win. You will have to risk a lot but as far as it being icy, it’s not going to happen,” said Osborne-Paradis, who will compete here for the third time in his career. He said that experience will serve him well this week.

“It teaches you a lot. Experience is something that you need on all the harder courses, for sure. Just getting time on the track, even inspecting, it’s very important,” he said.

“You have to wrap it around your head that it’s just Kitzbühel, it’s just another race.”