Hudec rockets into history; Canada’s first downhill win at Louise

The Calgary Herald - Officially, Jan Hudec’s journey to the top of the medal podium at Lake Louise started around 11:38 a.m. Saturday. In reality, though, it began with a white-knuckle boat trip on the Adriatic Sea when Hudec was nine months old and his parents—dad Jan and mother Vladi—defected from the former Czechoslovakia.

That dash to freedom has paid off ever since, but never more memorably than on a chilly, windy Saturday in the Canadian Rockies when Hudec thrilled the home crowd with Canada’s first downhill victory at Lake Louise in the season-opening Bombardier Winterstart World Cup.

“It’s incredible,” marvelled the 26-year-old Hudec, who spent five years in Germany before moving to Alberta as a six-year-old. “Our team is so pumped up right now . . . any one of our guys could have won today. It’s incredible. We’re doing all the right things. I was just happy to be the one who was fastest to the finish.”

Starting fifth on a course he termed the toughest he’s ever seen at Lake Louise, Hudec finished the nearly three-kilometre run in one minute, 42.79 seconds, nearly a quarter-second faster than runner-up Marco Sullivan of the U.S.

“This morning, I was just trying not to throw up and put down a good run,” said Hudec, who won Friday’s final training run. “I did the same thing I did yesterday, balls to the wall. I had to lay everything on the line; it’s so close, there are 15 guys who can win the race and you have to risk everything, and I did today.”

It was Hudec’s first trip to the World Cup podium after finishing second in the downhill at February’s world alpine championships in Sweden. And it was also the payoff after spending three years in rehab, recovering from three separate knee surgeries, including one on a knee the surgeon described as looking “like a stick of dynamite blew up in it.”

“I can’t honestly say that I ever doubted that this day would come,” said Hudec. “If I didn’t believe that this day was possible, I don’t think that I’d still be ski racing; I would have quit a long time ago. To be out for three seasons in a row is not something that sparks ambition or interest to keep skiing. It was definitely difficult.”

And, as of Saturday, worth every minute—not unlike that 40-kilometre trip down the Adriatic coast to Italy in a leaky five-metre boat his dad built at their home.

Calgary’s John Kucera also had a memorable day, finishing seventh to set the stage for his title defence in today’s 11:30 a.m. super-G race. Other Canadian results had Erik Guay of Mont-Tremblant, Que., in 17th, Francois Bourque of New Richmond, Que., was 34th, Manuel Osborne-Paradis of Invermere, B.C., was 40th, Gareth Sine of Calgary was 56th and Robbie Dixon of North Vancouver was 58th.

Brent Hayden completes sprint freestyle sweep at Bell Grand Prix.

TORONTO - Canadian Sport News - World champion Brent Hayden of Vancouver completed a sprint freestyle golden sweep with a victory in the men’s 200-metre race at the Bell Grand Prix swimming competition which concluded on Sunday at the Etobicoke Olympium.

Hayden clocked the victory with Andrew Hurd of Toronto second and Colin Russell of Barrie, Ont., third.  Hayden also won the 50 and 100 freestyle races this weekend. Other winners in men’s competition were Scott Dickens of Vancouver in the 50 breaststroke, Callum Ng of Vancouver in the 100 backstroke, Adam Sioui of Calgary in the 200 butterfly and Francesco Zuccaro of Etobicoke in the 1,500 freestyle.

In that 1,500 freestyle, Zuccaro clocked a personal best to upset Canadian record holder Ryan Cochrane of Victoriain second.  Jarrod Ballem of Calgary, one of Canada’s top open water swimmers, was third.

In women’s competition, Erica Morningstar of Calgary collected her fourth gold and also completed a sprint freestyle golden sweep with a victory in the 200 freestyle.  Kevyn Peterson of Calgary came second and Chanelle Charron-Watson of Quebec City came third.

Other winners in women’s competition were Annamay Pierse of Vancouver in the 50 breaststroke, Elizabeth Wycliffe of Kingston, Ont., in the 100 backstroke, MacKenzie Downing of Victoria in the 200 butterfly and Tanya Hunks of Vancouver in the 800 freestyle.

Pierre Lafontaine, Swimming Canada’s national coach and CEO, discussed the importance of this weekend’s competition. ‘’These are the athletes who’ll compete at the Olympic trials next year and this was one of the last times they’ll race head-on before those trials,’’ said Lafontaine.  ‘’The athletes showed they were confident in their racing and confident in their training programs.  Many athletes were not fully rested at this meet but they still delivered some great racing despite the fatigue from heavy training.’’

Keith Beavers of Waterloo, Ont., posted victories in the men’s 200-metre backstroke and 400 individual medley on Friday at the Bell Grand Prix swimming competition. Other winners in men’s competition were world champion Brent Hayden of Vancouver in the 100 freestyle, Mike Brown of Calgary in the 100 breaststroke and Thomas Kindler of Montreal in the 50 butterfly.

Brown, a world championship medallist in the 200 breaststroke in 2005, was pleased to post one of his fastest times ever in the 100. ‘’I was very pleased with my race tonight,’’ said Brown.  ‘’I clocked the second fastest time in my career for the split.  It was great to be back to my old swimming self again in that event.  I went out smooth and controlled and came back like a mad man. ‘’That kind of performance can only help me in the 200.  It gives me a lot of confidence and I’m really forward to how I’ll race in the 200.’’

In women’s competition, Elizabeth Wycliffe of Kingston, Ont., posted the win in the 200 backstroke. Other winners in women’s competition were MacKenzie Downing of Victoria in the 50 butterfly, Annamay Pierse of Vancouver in the 100 breaststroke, Erica Morningstar of Calgary in the 100 freestyle and Tanya Hunks of Vancouver in the 400 IM.

JEFF CHRISTIE BLOWS INTO SIXTH SPOT AT VIESSMANN LUGE WORLD CUP IN CALGARY.

CALGARY–Canada’s Jeff Christie slid into sixth place on a day when knowledge of the home track really was an advantage at the 2007 Viessmann Luge World Cup in Calgary on Saturday evening.

The 24-year-old Calgarian matched his sixth-place finish from last year, which was also his personal best on the World Cup. “I have taken so many runs here in the wind so I do know exactly where it is going to blow and what it is going to do so I am comfortable with it and it is an advantage,” said Christie. “If you even want to think about contending for the medals you have to put down two straight and consistent runs and I did that today so I am happy. Right now I feel I’m ranked solidly in the seven-to-15 group. If I continue to slide like I did today, I believe I can break out of that group and into the top.”

Christie’s Olympic and World Cup comrades, Sam Edney and Ian Cockerline, also had their personal best World Cup performances while sliding into the top-15. The 23-year-old Calgarians finished 12th and 14th respectively.

Canada’s Moffat brothers, Chris and Mike, slid into the top-10 after posting two solid runs under the lights in men’s doubles action.

Regan Lauscher led the way for the female Canucks after posting a ninth-place result. “Overall, I am satisfied with my performance today,” said Lauscher who is making a full-time comeback to the World Cup circuit after racing a condensed season last year which ended early with an injury. “I’m always looking for two consistent runs and it is coming. We are only two races into year one of a three-year plan, which ends in 2010, so I keep telling myself there is a bigger picture and I know I’m on track.”

Lauscher’s teammate, Meaghan Simister, whose best-ever finish on the World Cup is 11th place, settled for 15th spot.

Meanwhile, Canada’s next generation of elite luge athletes were also in action on Saturday as they were competing at the Junior World Cup in Winterberg, Germany. Calgary’s Tristan Walker won a silver medal in men’s Youth A division on Saturday.

World Cup weekend disapointing; Alpine women’s team fails to qualify a single skiier for second slalom run.

The Vancouver Sun - PANORAMA—Alpine Canada women’s 2010 acceleration team might want to put the pedal to the medal. The country could use them now.

The nine teenagers—eight 18-year-olds and one 19-year-old—three of them from B.C.—were put together this spring to start building some much-needed depth with the women’s squad, particularly on the technical side, where Canada’s national team—or what’s left of it—had a dismal weekend of World Cup racing in this Purcell Mountains village.

The women didn’t qualify a single skier for a second run in either Saturday’s giant slalom or Sunday’s slalom, the first World Cup technical racers in Canada in more than two decades.

Admittedly, injuries have sidelined some of the country’s best female carvers—Genevieve Simard (knee), Allison Forsyth (knee), Shona Rubens (knee) Brigitte Acton (back) -- but veterans Emily Brydon (39th), Gail Kelly (DNF), Emilie Desforges (38th) and Britt Janyk (40th) couldn’t crack the top 30 in the first run of giant slalom. Local favorite Christina Lustenberger also crashed in the first run.

“We are expecting more from them for sure,” Max Garter, Alpine Canada’s director of Own the Podium projects, said Sunday. “Those veterans have to step up and perform." “For the young ones to develop, if you have somebody at the very front break through, then the pressure’s off. The other girls can kind of relax. Now, the pressure is on them to do something.”

Vancouver 2010 outdoor venues near completion.

By the end of 2007, construction at all outdoor venue sites will be finished – an unprecedented success. “Just pretty fantastic” noted John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).”We set a target that construction at these venues would be done at the end of this year and they are.”

The Whistler Sliding Centre, Whistler Nordic Competition Venue, Cypress Mountain venue, the alpine courses at Whistler Creekside and updates to the short track speed skating and figure skating at the Pacific Coliseum venue will all be completed by Christmas 2007.  Construction crews have worked tirelessly to bring these sites to operational use and soon, these venues will be open to the public for recreational use. Not long after, the venues will then be put to work hosting international level competitions starting in February 2008 with the Alpine World Cup in Whistler.

With  these recent successes, the venue construction team is still not slowing down – there are indoor venues to be completed.  “In the coming year, in 2008, you’ll see the completion of the number one hockey arena at the University of British Columbia which will be used for women’s hockey and sledge hockey,” said Furlong.  “You’ll see the curling facility at Hillcrest finished in the third quarter. The speed skating facility at the Richmond Oval will also be substantially complete and the two Villages, obviously, are continuing and are exactly where they need to be to deliver on the objective of having them ready in time for the Games.” 

“So we’re very proud and, of course, the icing on the cake is they’ll be done and they’ll be completed on budget,” said Furlong. “We’re very, very proud of it."

Canadian ski team tight-lipped on top secret project.

The Calgary Sun - They weren’t about to take all the brown wrapping off, but Alpine Canada allowed a brief peek inside the box yesterday at one of their secret projects to help Canadian skiers win medals at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Working with the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering, Alpine Canada is developing a ultra-light weight navigation system that will provide skiers with significant training advantages.

Max Gartner, Alpine Canada’s chief athletics officer, said the system will help shave crucial 100ths of second off times, which will result in Canadian skiers getting on the podium in Whistler during the 2010 Games. “We’ve been on the wrong side of a 100ths many times in big events,” said Gartner. “We don’t want to be on that wrong side in Whistler. We are looking at everything that can help us get there.”

Few details of the project, which is being partially funded by the Own The Podium program, were revealed. No one would say how much the system will cost to develop, exactly what it will do, or how it works. “’I can’t talk about that,” said Gerald Cole, an adjunct professor of kinesiology at the U of C. “It’s still under the top secret program.

“What I can say is it’s a navigation device that is going to provide the coaches with some very important information to assist athlete performance and help them make corrections. “As far as we know, we are ahead of the world on this one.”

Cole, who is a biomechanics researcher, was part of a team that designed a new soccer show for superstar David Beckham several years ago. Gerard Lachapelle, a professor with the Schulich School of Engineering, said the devise will have practical applications outside of sports after the Games, especially for the military.

Own The Podium’s goal is to have Canada be on top of the medal standings at the 2010 Games. Gartner said Alpine Canada is already using the secret system in training. “We know there are a lot of countries that have been trying to develop something like this for years and years,” he said. “We know we are the fist one that has it.

“That’s the exciting part for us. It always seems the Austrians are the first one to come up with something new. We’re starting to see more and more projects where we are jumping ahead of the competition.”

SWIMMING CANADA ANNOUNCES NEW SPEEDO MEDAL BONUS PROGRAM “$50, 000 for Olympic Gold Medal”.

Toronto – Swimming Canada announced the creation of the Speedo Medal Bonus Program targeted to high performance achievements at the Olympic Games. This announcement was made today during a Press conference for The Bell Grand Prix Swim competition.

“We at Speedo Canada put strong emphasis on performance in our products and we wanted to extend that philosophy to reward high performance by the swimmers who use them,” said Andy Thomas Vice-President Sales and Marketing Speedo Canada. “That also aligns us with the goals of Swimming Canada and places Canadian swimming in the forefront of this countries Olympic hopes and dreams.”

Speedo Canada has created the Speedo Medal Bonus Program that will reward Canadian swimmers with $50,000 dollars if they win an Olympic Gold medal in Beijing, $10,000 for a Silver medal and $5,000 for a Bronze. “This announcement is awesome, we are very happy to be part of it and have the support from sponsors such as Speedo Canada,” said Rick Say two-time Olympian. “As an athlete, you don’t strive to win an Olympic medal because it will bring a monetary reward, but recognition like the Speedo Medal Bonus and the COC Excellence reward will definitely help us to stay in the sport longer and plan for our future.”

Calgary entry beats out Bocce Ball, Ultimate Frisbee and Flatland Biking in Petro-Canada’s Dream Big Contest.

CALGARY, Nov. 26 - Canadians have decided that skiing isn’t just for the Olympic Winter Games as more than 30,000 voted online in Petro-Canada’s Dream Big Contest for waterskiing as the sport they’d most like to see in a future Olympic Games.

Now, Calgary’s Annica Collombin—who made a passionate pitch to become one of four finalists vying to elevate her sport to Olympic Games status—has won the chance to present her case to the Canadian Olympic Committee, plus a trip for two to attend the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in 2010.

“I’m very excited for Water Skiers everywhere! Petro-Canada is providing us with this amazing opportunity to get the attention of the Canadian Olympic Committee,” says Collombin, an athlete, coach and official with Calgary’s Predator Bay Water Ski Club, hosts of the World Water Ski Championships in 2009. “Water Skiing has all the elements and proven international success to participate in the Olympic Dream.”

The Petro-Canada Dream Big contest kicked off with a call to sports enthusiasts of all stripes to sign up online at www.iwilldreambig.ca for a chance to be randomly selected to the semifinals.

Then, 80 semifinalists from across the country were chosen to present their case to a panel of judges made up of Canadian Olympians and FACE athletes including: Marc Gagnon, Hayley Wickenheiser, Brent Hayden, Jennifer Robinson and Vicky Sunohara as well as Nicholas Lachance, Yvette Yong, Tyler Mosher and Brayden MacDougall. After being videotaped live in front of the panel of judges, four finalists were chosen and their videos were posted online giving all Canadians a chance to vote for their favourite. Waterskiing beat out Bocce Ball, Flatland Biking and Ultimate Frisbee in the Dream Big showdown!