World Cup Skiing - Oh Canada! - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Bobblehead · 01-26-2007, 12:41 PM

I recall hearing Ken Read say, when he took over, that It was podium finishes he was interested in, not the "Personal Bests" that had been the goal for a number of years.

That reminds me that after the last olympics the Canadian Swim team had the same issues - they were more interested in personal best times than winning. I hope they now have someone like Ken Read pushing them for some medal finishes.

habernac · 01-26-2007, 01:51 PM

Alex Baumann was lured back from Australia to do this very thing with our swimmers. I think we'll do well with him.

troutman · 01-29-2007, 11:11 AM

Another 4th on Sunday:

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Skiing/200...467490-ap.html

Kildow won a World Cup super-G Sunday on the same course where she fell in downhill training at last year's Turin games. Britt Janyk of Whistler, B.C., narrowly missed the podium in fourth.

troutman · 02-02-2007, 04:41 PM

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Skiing/200...07080-sun.html

Crazy again?

Canada's national ski team has been chasing the shadows of the past for almost a generation now. It's not easy to surpass illusions of grandeur.

Hard acts to follow.

They were heady times for Canadian skiing. But, speculation is, the best skiing team this country has ever had might just be the one heading into the world championships this weekend in Are, Sweden. It certainly has the potential to become the best, if it isn't already.

troutman · 02-06-2007, 05:52 PM

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Skiing/200...540847-cp.html

The skiers finally hit the slopes Tuesday with several Canadians just missing the podium.

Britt Janyk of Whistler, B.C., finished in a tie for fourth place in the women's super-giant slalom while Erik Guay of Mont-Tremblant, Que., Jan Hudec of Calgary and Francois Bourque of New Richmond, B.C., each finished within 0.05 seconds or less of a medal in the men's super-G.

browna · 02-11-2007, 01:12 PM

Hudec with a silver at the WC. First ever for CDN men at a WC.
Guay just misses the podium.

http://www.tsn.ca/tsn/news_story/?ID=195827&hubname=

Wow...are these guys peaking too early? 3 years from now in Vancouver they're going to have some crushing pressure on them.

Sylvanfan · 02-11-2007, 01:38 PM

What and if they were peaking at the Olympics and had no experience as being good skiiers would be better?

These guys now have two full seasons in which they'll face higher expectations to perform. I think that will be great experience for these guys. When those Olympics roll around they'll be much more seasoned, and experienced, and better prepared to handle that type of pressure.

browna · 02-11-2007, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

What and if they were peaking at the Olympics and had no experience as being good skiiers would be better?

These guys now have two full seasons in which they'll face higher expectations to perform. I think that will be great experience for these guys. When those Olympics roll around they'll be much more seasoned, and experienced, and better prepared to handle that type of pressure.

I know, but this has raised the bar for expectations, and, if they don't get on the podium in Whistler 2010, it will be considered by the cynics in the media, another case of "Canadians choking on the big stage" and "What's wrong with amatuer winter sport in this country". This time last year, there was little buzz about Men's skiing and any decent result was a good result and there were no expectations.

Of course this is media making ridiculous arguments about choking in Olympics, when it comes down to one race and all the intracite factors involved for that one race, but thats they way public perception has been set by the media. Sure, some athletes are to share blame (Wotherspoon in speedskating is a prime example) but circumstances and luck play a factor.

That said, yes, i'd be more worried about the above scenario of sky high expectations if next yaer was the Olympics. These guys are going to have to grind it out for a couple years still. Obviosuly encouraging to see them win at this level and build the confidence to draw on for 3 years from now.

Alter Haudegen · 02-13-2007, 02:17 AM

Just read in an Austrian paper that Hudec is a big fan of the Flames

Obviously Ference supplied the Canadian downhillers with Flames tickets from time to time, so he is very sad to see him traded to Boston.

troutman · 02-23-2007, 03:21 PM

A bronze in the downhill Friday for Guay:

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Skiing/200...658454-cp.html

Guay's bronze upped the team's total take this season to 10 - nine in World Cup racing and one, Hudec's silver, from the world championships. The team won 12 last season and could top that this season.

The team is fast amassing results that might overtake the achievements of the Crazy Canucks of the 1970s.

transplant99 · 02-24-2007, 11:05 AM

And Guay tops his bronze from Friday....with a gold!!

http://www.tsn.ca/tsn/news_story/?ID=197430&hubname=

KootenayFlamesFan · 02-24-2007, 06:34 PM

3 in the top 10 today.

Also gives Canada 11 medals so far this year.............great stuff.

troutman · 03-03-2007, 10:50 PM

Canada does it again. Our best ski team ever:

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Skiing/200...691065-cp.html

Francois Bourque's silver and Emily Brydon's bronze increased the total world championship and World Cup medals haul by Canada's Alpine skiers to a single-season record of 13 Saturday.

Three Canadians made the top 10. Kelly Vanderbeek of Kitchener, Ont., was only 33-100ths behind the winner in fifth place, and Britt Janyk was 1:03 seconds back in 10th. Shona Rubens of Canmore, Alta., finished 23rd in 1:54.75.

habernac · 03-10-2007, 12:32 PM

another silver!!!

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Skiing/200...726407-cp.html

ricoFlame · 03-10-2007, 01:02 PM

Wow, the canadian alpine program has realy turned things around. impressive stuff.

octothorp · 03-10-2007, 01:23 PM

This has to be one of the stories of the year in Canadian sports. It's early in the year, but about ten months from now when they're handing out the awards for best individual athletes and best team in Canada, the alpine ski team has got to be considered for best team.

troutman · 03-15-2007, 10:24 AM

A 3rd for Guay in a Super G today:

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Skiing/200...749223-ap.html

A fine season for Canadian skiers got a little better Thursday as Eric Guay finished third in the super-G at the World Cup finals

Sylvanfan · 03-15-2007, 05:42 PM

Maybe the Flames need to hire Ken Read to motivate the players to get better results. He's been brilliant with this Canadian Alpine team this year.